Transient Charged for Attacking an Elderly Woman Outside a Supermarket
HAYWARD — A man faces charges for elder abuse involving a vulnerable victim, following his arrest in July. The incident was investigated as a hate crime before charges were subsequently filed.
On the morning of July 21, a 72-year-old woman was assaulted outside a supermarket specializing in Asian foods. The victim was walking towards the entrance of Seafood City on Hesperian Boulevard, when a man approached her.
Suddenly without any warning the man smacked the old woman’s face. Startled, she fell to the ground. She landed on her back on a concrete curb in the supermarket parking lot. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
The incident was recorded on surveillance video. Police reviewed the video and recognized the suspect, Steve G. Karanja, a 25-year-old transient. Karanja was arrested in the vicinity of the supermarket the same day at 7 p.m. The victim positively identified him as the suspect.
Karanja remains in custody at Alameda County Santa Rita Jail, pending arraignment. He is charged with elder or dependent adult abuse PC 368(b) involving a vulnerable victim PC 1170(b).
The suspect is familiar with Hayward PD. Karanja was arrested five times for burglaries in 2022. Besides his latest charges, he has an active criminal case pending for second-degree burglary involving a vulnerable victim.
Karanja was on probation at the time of his arrest. He has prior convictions for receiving stolen property, trespassing, vandalism, and other offenses.
