LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Filipino American household continues to be reeling after a violent hate crime practically claimed the lifetime of a husband and father. Now, greater than two years later, they’re demanding justice as his attacker awaits sentencing.
“Let’s be clear – this was not a random act; This was a hate crime. Christian Lenzt chose to target my father because he is Filipino American,” Phillip Quindara stated.
“Our lives were shattered by a senseless and violent act of hate,” Leonida Quindara stated.
For the Quindara household, the trauma continues to be recent.
“You were almost successful in killing me,” The sufferer, Amadeo Quindara, stated to his attacker in courtroom on Monday morning. “You waited until my son left the house, and that’s when you came and attacked me.”
In Might 2023, 77-year-old Quindara was crushed in his storage by his neighbor, Christian Lentz, in what prosecutors say was a racially motivated assault.
“I heard a moaning in the garage and as soon as I opened my garage door, I saw my husband lying in a pool of blood,” Leonida Quindara defined.
The accidents have been critical, together with a mind hematoma, however the emotional scars run even deeper.
“My dad is not the same person he was before. He was once an active, joyful, and engaged man,” Phillip Quindara stated. “He no longer leaves the house without fear. He no longer enjoys the simple activities that brought him so much joy, and we as a family no longer feel safe.”
“You took away my dreams. You took away my freedom,” Amadeo Quindara stated.
“Our rights to feel safe in our own home and the right to live without fear,” stated Leonida Quindara.
In April, Lentz pleaded responsible however mentally sick to residential housebreaking motivated by bias or hatred and abuse of an older individual. He informed the courtroom he was in a manic episode on the time of the assault.
“This mental illness defense is an excuse for his violent and racist actions,” Henry Quindara, the sufferer’s son, stated.
Lentz is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 4 at 9 a.m.
Lentz’s protection legal professional is asking the courtroom to prioritize therapy over punishment, saying this case highlights an pressing want for higher psychological well being assets. Lentz issued an apology in courtroom — not solely to the Quindara household however to all the neighborhood.
