A Long Island man who allegedly left his victim brain dead after mugging her in Flushing last weekend has been arrested, authorities said.
Brian Rodriguez, 35, faces assault and robbery charges for striking a female on the side of her head before fleeing with her pocketbook on Saturday, October 20 around 1 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.
The victim, Hai Yan Yang, was walking on 41st Avenue in Flushing when the perp from Nassau County, who was wearing a hood, allegedly approached her from behind, according to the complaint that said surveillance cameras caught the attack.
Yang was taken to Flushing Hospital and was later transferred to a neurological intensive care unit at North Shore-LIJ in Manhasset. According to the district attorney, doctors say she sustained an “unrecoverable brain injury” that is “not compatible to sustain life.” Yang was pronounced brain dead two days later, the DA said.
Rodriguez had at least eight prior arrests for robberies, assaults, possession of stolen property and grand larcenies, the NYPD said.
He was arraigned on Monday, October 22 and will return to court on November 5.
