Many saw online the horrible site of a woman hit by an object and falling to the ground. The victim, Shengan Wang, was walking home from work when 31-year-old Wantez Jamel Tulloss allegedly struck her head with a baseball bat from behind. In the video, the suspect can be seen dropping two bags in his right hand so that he could use both hands to hit Wang with the bat.
A report from the prosecutor’s office of the camera evidence reads as follows: “The video shows the victim walking alone down the sidewalk in Belltown. It was just after 6pm, dark outside, and her hood was up. [Tulloss] walked up behind her, bat in his left hand, and two bags in his right. He saw [Wang] and quickly put down the two bags he was carrying, so he could use both hands to swing the bat. He then took a full body swing at her head with the baseball bat, striking her in the side of the head and knocking her to the ground.”
Tulloss has been charged with first-degree assault. It is unclear exactly when he was arrested, but he remains at the Kings County Correctional Facility on a $150,000 bail as of Wednesday. If convicted, he could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years, as well as 36 months of community custody.
“The randomness, the viciousness of it. It’s absolutely disturbing that’s why we rush filed [sic] the case,” said Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecutor’s Office, “This video is nauseating, it’s awful to watch. But we have prosecutors who are doing everything they can to hold this person accountable and we’re going to keep doing it whether it’s this case or other cases.”
A Seattle radio host tweeted, “Wantez Tulloss, a prolific offender, is accused of hitting this random woman in the head with a bat. He takes a full swing. She’s now suffering skull fractures that require significant surgery. He got a slice of pizza after the attack. This is what Seattle has become.”
Washington State courts have reportedly issued 11 warrants for Tulloss’ arrest since 2012. He has been convicted of nine misdemeanors and two felonies for robbery and breaking into private property. According to investigators, Tulloss currently has a warrant for theft in the third degree out of the Kirkland Municipal Court.
Seattle Police Department Detective James L. Cooper spoke to Wang. She said she did not remember much of the assault because the attacker came from behind, she did not see who it was. She is currently staying with a friend while she remains in bed, immobilized by her injuries.
There have also been questions about possible hate crime. The county’s communication director Casey McNerthney told AsAmNews via email: “If we can prove a hate crime, we will charge that. Right now, with what has been sent to us by investigators, the crime we can prove is Assault in the First Degree – which also has a significantly longer sentencing range set by state lawmakers. But regardless of the sentencing ranges, if we get information that can prove a hate crime in this case or others, we’ll charge that hate crime.”
