By Gina Martinez
Flushing residents and lawmakers marched together last week seeking justice for Vincent Chun Man Tse, the 68-year-old who was brutally attacked and killed after a parking dispute in Flushing in July.
The marchers, holding signs with photos of Tse near death after his assault, demanded that the man charged in his death, Cleamon Anderson and his sister, face upgraded charges.
State Assemblyman Ron Kim (D- Flushing), State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing), City Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing), Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Flushing) and city Comptroller Scott Stringer joined marchers holding a banner with the hashtag #Justice4Tse and #Standup4elderly. The marchers met in front of Rosenthal Self Help Senior Center, where Tse volunteered for six years, serving fellow seniors food in his free time. Participants marched along Geranium Avenue to Colden Street. Their final destination was the intersection on Colden Street where Anderson, 44, allegedly punched Tse into a coma he never recovered from, according to prosecutors.
“Vincent Tse was a beloved father, caring husband, proud grandfather, and devoted member of our community,” Kim said. “He lived a life of faith and service caring for others, and a part of him will always remain in the many lives he has touched. In memory of one who gave so much of his time and energy to helping those in need, we are compelled to stand up and speak – for him and for all vulnerable seniors. His sudden death has brought indescribable shock, grief, and anger to so many of us, and we ask for no less than the full weight of justice.”
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Queens district attorney, video surveillance shows Anderson approaching Tse July 22 and striking him in the head, causing him to fall on the ground. When police arrived on the scene, they found Tse on the ground bleeding from the mouth, unable to communicate and with a swollen eye, according to prosecutors. Tse sustained a fractured skull, frontal and temporal contusions as well as swelling and bleeding from the brain, prosecutors said.
Anderson admitted to prosecutors that he was involved in a collision with Tse’s car, the complaint said. He claimed Tse grabbed his sister’s arm and when she pulled away and Anderson approached Tse, he “made a fake maneuver” and fell to the ground on his own, according to the complaint. To date Anderson has only been charged with felony assault.
Anderson’s sister, who was at the scene of the attack, is an NYPD school safety agent. Since she corroborated Anderson’s story, protesters want prosecutors to hold her accountable for trying to cover up the attack and lying to investigators.
Vincent’s son, Steven, attended the rally.
“This crime left a sorrow in my heart. Everytime I see his garden, his empty seat at the dinner table and family lunch hour on the weekend,” he said. “We will miss him dearly. My family has been put into the most difficult situation by the killer and his sister. They tag teamed to rob us of a loved one. Furthermore, they both lied to the very end. We only seek the truth and justice, so we can have closure to my father’s untimely death.”
Nearly 3,500 signatures have been collected fighting for upgraded charges, 300 paper copies and 3,000 online. The petition, on chang
“I stand today with my colleagues to condemn the senseless killing perpetrated against Chun Man Tse and I ask Queens District Attorney Richard Brown to review recent developments in the case and ensure the punishment fits the crime,” Stavisky said “Road rage continues to be a growing problem on our roadways. It is one of the leading causes of accidents and oftentimes it can lead to injuries, even death. Drivers must realize that violence is never the answer regardless of the circumstances. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Tse’s family as they get through this difficult time.”
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
