Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Violent Assault Over Greeting Snub

Ian Atkinson attacked a woman in Dorchester after she failed to respond to his 'good morning,' leaving her with severe injuries.

Ian Atkinson, 34, was convicted of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon for attacking a 59-year-old woman in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in July 2023.
The victim was watering her plants when Atkinson became enraged after she did not respond to his greeting, calling her a slur and escalating the confrontation.
Atkinson repeatedly punched the woman, threw her against a fence, and nearly struck her with his car as he fled the scene.
The victim suffered a broken nose, facial contusions, and a hemorrhage in her left eye but managed to record part of the attack on her phone, which, along with surveillance footage, was key evidence in the trial.
Atkinson, who waived his right to a jury trial, was sentenced to two years in state prison followed by two years of probation.