SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Prosecutors say a woman attacked a 4-year-old girl and her father with a crowbar at a San Jose Wal-Mart because they were of Asian origin.
Maria Garate, a 20-year-old transient, was charged on Thursday with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, both with hate crime allegations. She appeared briefly in a Santa Clara County courtroom with a public defender, but did not enter a plea.
She is being held without bail.
The attack occurred on Tuesday. Police say Garate struck the girl on the head with a crowbar and attacked her father when he intervened to try to stop her from hitting the girl again.
The girl was treated for her injuries, which were not considered major.
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