photo courtesy of Houston Police Department
On March 29, activists supporting a victim of a violent robbery in Bellaire, Texas, are calling for the 17-year-old arrested as a suspect to have his bond raised again after judges lowered it down to $100,000.
According to ABC13, the Vietnamese victim was paralyzed from the violent attack she suffered at the hands of a robber, who was suspected to be Joseph Harrell.
Nhung Troung, 44, was followed out from the bank a few weeks ago after making a $4,300 cash withdrawal by Harrell, cornered on the streets and violently robbed. She was body-slammed in the attack and left with a broken rib and a fractured spine, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. The entire attack was caught on Bellaire street video. Although Harrell is being held in custody, his bond was initially set at $200,000; recently, the bond dropped to $100,000 and caused outrage from community activists and Troung’s family.
Hai Bui from the We The People organization expressed anger at the judge’s choice. Bui said, “What happens when he goes out and commits another crime, and we’re talking about it again? We told you so. He’s out again. We’re asking the judge to put the bond back at $200,000.”
“We’re concerned. We’re concerned for her family. We’re concerned for my family and your family,” another activist added.
The concerns heightened when reports were released relaying a personal phone call from Harrell in jail.
The voice on the line could be heard saying, “The (expletive) already up $200,300 off GoFundMe. (Expletive) better run on with her life,” about the Vietnamese single mother.
Harrell was referencing the GoFundMe set up to financially support the Vietnamese family in their time of need. Troung has been left unable to work because of being paralyzed. She’s been a single mother ever since her husband passed away recently, which means that she was the family’s only source of income. She told the outlet, “I’m happy that I can live for my family again, but it’s pretty inconvenient that I can’t walk.”
The GoFundMe supporting her has since raised upwards of $330,000; someone has even come to cook for her and her family since she was discharged.