Asian man punched out in the Bronx

A partially blind homeless man was punched to the ground on a Bronx street in what could be the city’s latest hate crime against Asians, police said Monday.

Chi Chen told police his attacker didn’t say a word when he came up behind him on Franklin St. near Fulton Ave. just before 4 p.m. Sunday and slugged him in the head before running off.

Chen, who lives in a shelter, was on his way to a park when the suspect slugged him, bruising his right cheekbone and knocking him to the ground. He did not require medical attention.

The NYPD’s Asian Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident. There have been nearly three dozen reported hate crimes against Asians citywide so far this year.

Chen told the Daily News Monday he was tired and had spent the day talking to detectives investigating his case.

Police describe the suspect as Black, about 40, 6 feet tall and 165 pounds.