Police investigate acid attack on Milwaukee's south side as a hate crime; suspect in custody
Police investigate acid attack on Milwaukee's south side as a hate crime; suspect in custody
Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Published 3:01 p.m. CT Nov. 2, 2019 | Updated 12:20 p.m. CT Nov. 3, 2019
A Milwaukee man who suffered second-degree burns to his face in an acid attack Friday said Saturday he's now scared to walk around in his own city.
Mahud Villalaz, 42, on Saturday remained stunned by his encounter on Milwaukee's south side with a man at a bus stop who began berating him and then threw acid onto his face from a metal bottle.
Police said early Sunday that they had arrested a 61-year-old man in connection with an "aggravated battery" near the same location on Friday.
Villalaz's family released a statement thanking police for an arrest in the case.
"We wish to thank Chief Alfonso Morales and all the professionals at the Milwaukee Police Department for their efforts in bringing the attacker to justice," the statement reads.
On Saturday Villalaz said he no longer felt safe.
"I feel scared being an American citizen. I feel scared that I cannot feel protected in my own country with my neighbors," Villalaz told reporters at a news conference Saturday where he spoke in both Spanish and English.
More:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2019/11/02/milwaukee-battery-acid-attack-man-burned-police-looking-suspect/4140669002/
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Ivan Moreno, Associated Press Updated 2:58 pm CST, Monday, November 4, 2019
Photo: Sophie Carson, AP
Mahud Villalaz, 42, of Milwaukee gestures to the second-degree burns on his face Saturday November 2, 2019 at a news conference one day after a man threw acid at him outside a restaurant on Milwaukee's south side. He is joined by, from left, state Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, his sister, and Forward Latino leader Darryl Morin. (Sophie Carson/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee police arrested a man suspected of throwing battery acid on a Hispanic man who says his attacker asked him, "Why did you come here and invade my country?"
Police said Monday they arrested a 61-year-old white man suspected in Friday night's attack, but they have not released his name. Police said they're investigating the case as a hate crime and charges are expected Tuesday.
Mahud Villalaz suffered second-degree burns to his face. He said the attack happened after a man confronted him about how he had parked his car and accused him of being in the U.S. illegally. Villalaz, 42, is a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Peru.
The attack comes amid a spike in hate crimes directed at immigrants that researchers and experts on extremism say is tied to mainstream political rhetoric.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Milwaukee-police-make-arrest-after-man-attacked-14807109.php
