Months after a brutal attack, 62-year-old Queens grandmother GuiYing Ma has died from her injuries. 

On Tuesday, her husband, Zanxin Gao, spoke publicly for the first time since her passing. The grieving widower was joined by elected officials, who denounced the recent spike in violence against Asian Americans.

Through his translator, Gao said, “My dear, my beloved, stay strong, I want you be able to go back to China with me.”

Those are the words he had a chance to tell his wife before she died. 

What You Need To Know

  • A Queens grandma died months after she was attacked with a rock

  • She spent 88 days in the hospital battling her injuries

  • Her husband spoke publicly denouncing attacks on Asian Americans Tuesday

“I didn’t expect she would go so quickly,” he said through tears in his native Chinese. 

Ma was attacked while she was out sweeping in front of her Queens home just before thanksgiving.

Police say 33-year-old Elisaul Perez hit her in the head repeatedly with a rock.

Ma fought for her life for 88 days in the hospital before she died. 

She and her husband had been married for more than four decades and came to New York four years ago to make extra money to help support their only son and two grandkids in China. 

“When I told my son about this he was totally devastated,” Mr. Gao explained. 

Mr. Gao was comforted by his attorneys and local elected officials who have been denouncing ongoing violence against Asian Americans. 

According to the NYPD, anti-Asian incidents increased by 343% in 2021, when there were 133 reported incidents compared to 30 incidents the previous year.

Ma’s case has not been classified as a hate crime, but Rep. Grace Meng says the Asian American community has had enough.

“We are tired, so tired of living in fear and being frightened about leaving their homes, letting our kids out, letting our parents and grandparents from going anywhere outside their front door,” Meng said.

Mr. Goa said, “We dare not go out,” referring to elderly Asian Americans.

Ms. Ma’s attacker was described as a known menace to the community before the incident.

Her case has now been reclassified as a homicide.

Perez faces several allegations of assault. The charges against him have not yet been upgraded. He is due back in court on April 12.