Texas Man, 27, Charged With Federal Hate Crime For "Knockout Game" Attack On 79-Year-Old Victim Share 
 
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 The Texas man charged with a federal hate crime for an alleged “knockout game” attack on a 79-year-old black victim was identified by police after he showed video of the assault to a stranger in a restaurant--a man who turned out to be an off-duty arson investigator who immediately flagged down a cop to report the brutal crime. 
 
 A federal criminal complaint accuses Conrad Alvin Barrett, 27, of punching the elderly man in the head on November 24 (the blow left the victim with two jaw fractures and cost him three teeth). The man underwent surgery “to insert two metal plates in his jaw,” and spent several days in the hospital, according to an affidavit sworn by FBI Agent Alfred Tribble. 
 
 Barrett, whose rap sheet includes prior convictions for burglary and drunk driving, is pictured in the adjacent mug shot. 
 
 Barrett’s phone, which was seized by police after the tip from the arson investigator, contained several incriminating videos, including a clip showing him approaching an “elderly African American man” and asking, “How’s it going, man?” As he gets closer to the victim, “a loud smack is heard, and the victim falls to the ground,” reported Tribble, who added, “Barrett laughs, says 'knockout,' and then flees in his vehicle.” 
 
 Other videos on Barrett’s phone appear to show him plotting a “knockout” attack. “The plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?” he comments in one clip. “In other videos, Barrett uses the word ‘nigger’ and states that African Americans ‘haven’t fully experienced the blessings of evolution,’” according to Agent Tribble. 
 
 Another video shows Barrett driving around a mall parking lot, saying that he was trying to work up the “courage” to play the “knockout game.” At one point, Barrett remarks that he had “found the perfect African American suspect,” but he then apparently changes his mind about attacking the target. 
 
 If convicted of the felony charge, Barrett faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Houston. ||||| A Texas man has been charged with a federal hate crime in connection with an assault of a 79-year-old black man that prosecutors allege was part of the "knockout game." 
 
 The knockout game, which has been known by a variety of names since 1992, is based on a person attacking another person, trying to knock the victim out with a single blow and usually recording the attack. Many urban experts doubt such attacks are widespread, but the recent wave of extensive publicity has moved the game out of the shadows. Many also believe the publicity sparks copycat crimes. 
 
 Assaults on random strangers simply to knock them out have been reported over the years in St. Louis, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, among other areas. An assault attributed to the knockout game reportedly killed a Vietnamese immigrant in 2011 in St. Louis. At least one legislator in Illinois has called for tougher penalties. 
 
 In the current case, Conrad Alvin Barrett, 27, has been charged with a federal hate crime, the U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday. The complaint alleges that Barrett, of Katy, Texas, violated the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act when he allegedly attacked the elderly man on Nov. 24. 
 
 Prosecutors allege that Barrett recorded himself on his cellphone attacking the man and showed the video to others. The complaint says Barrett made several videos, one in which he identifies himself and another in which he makes a racial slur. In addition, Barrett had been working up to playing the knockout game for approximately a week. 
 
 According to the complaint, Barrett in the video says that “the plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?” 
 
 “Suspected crimes of this nature will simply not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas said in a prepared statement. "Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law." 
 
 Barrett allegedly hit the man with enough force that he immediately fell to the ground. Barrett then laughed and said "knockout," as he ran to his vehicle and fled, according to allegations. 
 
 The victim sustained two jaw fractures and was hospitalized for several days as a result of the attack, according to the Justice Department. 
 
 "It is unimaginable in this day and age that one could be drawn to violently attack another based on the color of their skin," said the FBI's Stephen L. Morris, special agent in charge of the Houston division. "We remind all citizens that we are protected under the law from such racially motivated attacks, and encourage everyone to report such crimes to the FBI." 
 
 If convicted, Barrett faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 
 
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 HOUSTON - A Katy man has been charged with a federal hate crime related to the racially-motivated assault of a 79-year-old African American man in a “knockout game attack,” authorities announced. 
 
 “Suspected crimes of this nature will simply not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. “Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law.” 
 
 The criminal complaint was filed under seal Dec. 24, 2013, and unsealed Thursday upon Barrett’s arrest. 
 
 The complaint charges Conrad Alvin Barrett, 27, with one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. According to the complaint, on Nov. 24, 2013, Barrett attacked the elderly man because of the man’s race and color in what Barrett called a “knockout.” 
 
 “Hate crimes tear at the fabric of entire communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels of the Civil Rights Division. “As always, the Civil Rights Division will work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to ensure that hate crimes are identified and prosecuted, and that justice is done.” 
 
 Barrett allegedly recorded himself on his cell phone attacking the elderly man and showed the video to others. The complaint alleges Barrett made several videos, one in which he identifies himself and another in which he makes a racial slur. In addition, Barrett had allegedly been working up the “courage” to play the knockout game for approximately a week. 
 
 The “knockout game” is an assault in which an assailant aims to knockout an unsuspecting victim with one punch. According to the complaint, the conduct has been called other names and there have been similar incidents dating as far back as 1992. 
 
 "He deserves the maximum sentence," said Jedd Scott, the victim's nephew. "He should've known better not to do that." 
 
 According to the complaint, Barrett comments in a video that “the plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?” The complaint further alleges Barrett claims he would not hit “defenseless people” just moments before punching the elderly man in the face. Barrett allegedly hit the man with such force that the man immediately fell to the ground. Barrett then laughed and said “knockout,” as he ran to his vehicle and fled, according to allegations. The complaint indicates the victim suffered two jaw fractures and was hospitalized for several days as a result of the attack. 
 
 “It is unimaginable in this day and age that one could be drawn to violently attack another based on the color of their skin,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen L. Morris of the FBI. “We remind all citizens we are protected under the law from such racially-motivated attacks, and encourage everyone to report such crimes to the FBI.” 
 
 If convicted, Barrett faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 
 
 The investigation was conducted by the FBI in cooperation with the Fulshear and Katy Police Departments as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruben R. Perez and Joe Magliolo and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorneys Saeed Mody and Olimpia Michel in cooperation with Ft. Bend County District Attorney John Healey.
– Conrad Barrett wanted to get national exposure for taking part in the "knockout game," say prosecutors. The 27-year-old from Katy, Texas, succeeded in that much at least, as authorities have charged him with a federal hate crime, reports KHOU. Barrett, who is white, punched a 79-year-old black man in the jaw so hard that the man suffered two fractures and spent several days in the hospital, alleges the Justice Department. Prosecutors say Barrett recorded the assault on video, and the footage shows him laughing after the punch, saying "knockout," and running to his car, reports the LA Times. "The plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?” Barrett reportedly says on an earlier video. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted, notes the Smoking Gun. The knockout game generally involves teens punching innocent passersby, but there's much dispute over how widespread the assaults actually are. Some critics say the "trend" is more myth than reality—and,a convenient way to demonize black teenagers. The Texas case suggests the publicity is at least spawning copycat incidents.