A Katy, Texas man accused of assaulting a 79-year-old African American man in a “knockout game” attack has been charged with a federal hate crime.
According to federal investigators, 27-year-old Conrad Alvin Barrett targeted the unidentified elderly man because of his race, a violation of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. He allegedly wanted to see if physically striking an African American would make national news.
The incident reportedly occurred on November 24, when Barrett recorded himself performing the assault — an attempt to knock a person unconscious with a single blow — and began showing it off to others. One of the individuals he allegedly showed the video to was an off-duty investigator, who ultimately informed a police officer of the situation.