ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A St. Louis man has been charged after police say he repeatedly punched a customer at a grocery store in a racially motivated assault.
According to a release, Shawn Singer, 31, was charged with assault motivated by discrimination for punching a man inside the Dierbergs store on Olive Boulevard on Feb. 21 around 6 p.m.
Per a probable cause statement, the victim told police he was walking in an aisle when Singer passed him and muttered something he couldn’t understand.
When the victim asked Singer if he had said something, Singer responded “go back to your f–king country.”
The victim asked what he had ever done to Singer before Singer started heading toward him, swinging his fists. When the victim tried to get away, he fell to the ground, and Singer allegedly began hitting him repeatedly in his face and upper body.
Another person tried to pull Singer off the victim but was unsuccessful. Eventually, Singer stopped when he heard that police were being called.
When officers arrived at the store, Singer and the victim were both still there.
Singer was placed in handcuffs before telling officers, “I’m tired of foreigners, man. Walking all over the place, making our money cost so much more than it should. F–king people trampling over us. I’m next f–king going to China to take them down because they were part of the covid vaccine, virus.”
Following his arrest, Police said Singer continued making spontaneous racist remarks, including “Don’t blame this on me, man, there’s people who are from other countries that are taking jobs away from us,” and “I’m speaking about jobs in construction, jobs in workplace, foreigners are taking over.”
He also allegedly told officers, “Why you such a punk, man? Can’t you see what I’m trying to do? People from other countries are trying to take our jobs.”
St. Louis County Police Department Central County Precinct officers are handling this investigation.
Singer was charged on Feb. 22, and is being held on a $40,000 bond.
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