Disturbed Man Pleads Guilty in Unprovoked Knife Attack on Chinese Family

MIDLAND, TX- A Midland man has pleaded guilty to three counts of committing a hate crime in the Midland Sam’s Club back in March of 2020.

According to court documents, Jose Gomez III walked into Sam’s Club behind an Asian family and followed the family around the store for a few minutes. Although Gomez had no information about the family, he believed they were Chinese and a threat for “spreading that disease around.”

Gomez walked away from the family and found a steak knight that he bent backwards so the handle was in his hand and the serrated blade was facing outwards. He walked back into the victims and punched the father in the face which cut him. Gomez then ran but returned to go after the two child victims. One child was 6 at the time of the incident and the other was 2. Gomez cut the 6-year-old and ended up slicing through the ear and around the back of the child's head. The blade entered millimeters from the child’s right eye.

An employee of Sam’s Club jumped in to protect the family and was stabbed. Gomez was then held to the ground and began shouting at the victims “Get out of America!”

After the attack, Gomez admitted he believed the victims to be Chinese and blamed COVID-19 on them. He also admitted the tried to kill the 6-year-old and the Sam’s Club employees that stopped him from murdering the child.

“Racially motivated hate crimes targeting the Asian American community are on the rise and have no place in our society today. All people deserve to feel safe and secure living in their communities, regardless of race, color or national origin.” Said Kristen Clark. She is an Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Bernie Ramierez, a Border Patrol Agent, detained Jose Gomez III until police arrived.

Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Downey said, “No one should be afraid to go shopping or feel like they could be targeted by an act of violence based on their race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, country of national origin, or immigration status.”

Jose Gomez III could face life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine for each offense.

Read the first story about Jose Gomez HERE.