NEW YORK – A Filipino has died days after he was assaulted by a stranger in Woodside, New York. The victim, 56-year old Roberto Martires, died on Wednesday morning at the Elmhurst General Hospital. Woodside police said Martires was leaving Filipino restaurant Krystal's early Saturday morning when an unidentified man walked up to him and punched him in the face. Witnesses said Martires fell down and hit his head on the pavement. He was taken to a nearby hospital. Another witness said that the attacker even asked Martires: "Are you Filipino?" before he was attacked. According to the police, investigators are treating this case as a potential hate crime. Police released a photo on Monday of a person of interest wanted for questioning. Police described him as in his early to mid-20s, with facial hair and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a dark-colored baseball cap. The New York police is asking anyone with information about the attack to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by or texting their tips to 274637 (crimes) then entering TIP-577.
