Crime 'Sobering Reminder': Hate Crime Charges for Man Accused of Attacking 7 Asian Women in N.Y.C. Prosecutors say Steven Zajonc attacked seven women within a three-hour period By Greg Hanlon Greg Hanlon Greg Hanlon has been an editor in PEOPLE’s crime vertical since 2015. He has been covering crime for more than 15 years. His work has appeared previously in The New York Times and Slate. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 6, 2022 12:56PM EDT Steven Zajonc. Photo: NYPD A man who allegedly attacked seven Asian women in New York City one evening in February has been indicted on hate crime charges. Steven Zajonc, 28, faces six felony counts of third-degree assault as a hate crime and seven misdemeanor counts of aggravated second-degree harassment as a hate crime, according to a news release by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. According to Bragg, within a three-hour period on Feb. 27, Zajonc "selectively ambushed seven Asian women in separate assaults, some of which he struck from behind — for no other reason than their perceived race." Prosecutors say the attacks, which took place on Manhattan's East Side, were unprovoked. Zajonc allegedly struck the women with his closed fist or elbow, and in one case, allegedly shoved a woman to the ground. One woman was knocked unconscious, and six of the seven women suffered injuries including bruising and bleeding. Suspect in Anti-Asian Hate Crime Spree Arrested After Barricading Himself in N.Y.C.'s Landmark Public Library Anti-Asian hate crimes have increased drastically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, there was a 260.5% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in 15 major American cities from 2020 to 2021. The report states that in New York City, anti-Asian hate crimes jumped by 343%. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "These attacks on seven New York women, each fueled by anti-Asian hate, are yet another sobering reminder of the demonstrable fears AAPI communities, particularly AAPI women, in our City continue to face," Bragg said in the release. After the attacks, the New York Police Department disseminated video footage to help identify the suspect. Prosecutors say employees at the New York Public Library recognized Zajonc in the video and said he was a patron. He was arrested at the library's main branch on March 2. San Francisco Police Data Show Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Jumped an Alarming 567% in 2021 Zajonc is being held on $50,000 bond, according to jail records, which do not identify an attorney for him. If you've been attacked or have witnessed an attack, please contact your local authorities. You can also report your incident here. To learn more and to report crimes, go to: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Stop the AAPI Hate, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA, and Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council.