Gov. Hochul orders suspect of unprovoked attack who was released due to bail reform back in jail

Van Phu Bui, 55, was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempted murder after surveillance video appeared to show him hitting a man who was left in a coma.

News 12 Staff

Aug 20, 2022, 3:03 AM

Updated 786 days ago

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Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered on Friday that the man accused in an unprovoked attack who was released from jail to be back behind bars.
Van Phu Bui, 55, was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempted murder after surveillance video appeared to show him hitting a man who was left in a coma.
On Thursday, he walked free without bail, which was something Hochul said should not have happened.
"That person is now in custody, that is at my direction. The people of New York need to know that as their governor, I'll stand up and protect them," Hochul said. "Judges have wide discretion to set bail or to hold someone and I'm putting an emphasis on hold someone."
Bui was arrested after police said he knocked a man unconscious outside Fuego Tipico on the Grand Concourse last Friday night.
Bui was originally charged with attempted murder, but on Thursday, his charges were dropped to misdemeanors, which are not bail eligible.
His history reveals he was out on parole as a level three sex offender.
"I directed the Department of Corrections and community supervision to immediately examine whether or not this parole violation occurred. Yes, it did. You could tell this occurred and this was a person on lifetime parole," Hochul said.
As a result, Bui was taken back into custody. Now the incident is raising questions on bail reform.
"I think for serious crimes it should be harder for them to get out of jail because it will reduce the crime rate in our area," said resident Anthony Marcano.
"Give them psychiatry, give them therapy in jail, but don't let them out," said resident Nina Toro.
The topic has gotten a lot of different reactions. While some people want to see tighter bail laws, others argue the bail system isn't equitable and causes overcrowding in jails.