Update: 2:01 p.m., 11/6/19
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office says that Clifton Blackwell, 61, faces a charge of first degree reckless injury with use of a dangerous weapon with a hate crime enhancer in this case.
Blackwell faces up to 35 years in prison if he is convicted on all aspects of the charge.
Police say that they found the victim on the evening of November 1 at a restaurant on South 13th Street in Milwaukee. They discovered he had burns to his face, cheek and neck and had a left eye injury due to “an acidic substance.”
The victim, who said he is from Peru, went to the restaurant when Blackwell, a white man, approached him saying he couldn’t park in front of the restaurant.
According to the victim, Blackwell then asked him “Why did you invade my country?” and “Why don’t you respect my laws?” before pulling out a metal bottle.
The victim then noticed he had parked illegally and moved his car.
According to the complaint, the victim then says he went toward the restaurant when Blackwell allegedly said “Why did you invade my country?” and “Go back, go back (expletive),” and called the victim an “illegal.”
The victim is an American citizen, gaining citizenship in 2013.
The criminal complaint says the victim confronted Blackwell, reportedly telling him he was a “racist (expletive),” “everyone comes from somewhere first” and that Native Americans had been on U.S. territory the longest.
The victim then says Blackwell threw a liquid at him which led to the injuries.
A search warrant at Blackwell’s home showed that he had “muriatic acid, four bottles of brand name Kleen-Out sulfuric acid, two bottles of Kleen-Out drain opener (100% lye), and Parkerizing cleaner.”
Update 11/3/19
Police say they have arrested a 61-year-old man they believe was responsible for the attack Friday night.
According to TODAY’S TMJ-4, the suspect was taken into custody for ‘aggravated battery.’ A GoFundMe campaign on behalf of the victim has been set up.
Original Story
Milwaukee police are looking for a suspect after someone threw acid onto another person’s face in an alleged racist attack on Friday night.
Police say it happened around 8:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of South 13th Street.
The 42-year-old victim and an unknown suspect got into an argument when the suspect threw acid onto the victim.
The victim and nearby witnesses claim the man shouted “Go back to your country,” as he threw the acid.
That victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of second degree burns.
That suspect has been described as a white man standing around six feet tall.
He was wearing black pants and shoes and a blue winter jacket with the hood up during the attack.
He had a black bag that contained a silver aluminum container, which police believe was holding battery acid.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department.