Feds release video in "knock out" attack in hate crime case

Editor's Note: This video contains graphic images.

The U.S. Department of Justice released the cellphone video recorded by Conrad Barrett, the so-called "knockout guy," who was convicted of a hate crime for punching an elderly black man in the face.

"I have to step up the courage," Barrett, says in the video moments before the attack outside a Fulshear shopping mall.

"For about a week now, I have been unable to go through with the plan," he says. "The plan is to see if I hit an elderly black person would this be televised nationally?"

The video was a central part of the case against Barrett, 29, who was recently sentenced to 71 months in federal prison.

The video was released Friday following a Freedom of Information Act request by the Houston Chronicle and other media companies on the grounds it had been introduced in court as evidence.

The videotaped attack took place on Thanksgiving weekend in 2013, and left the 79-year-old victim with a broken jaw and missing teeth.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruben Perez said it was important to get Barrett off the streets.

"He was out there to hurt people," Perez said. "I would hope the public would realize what the man did."

The Katy man later went to a restaurant and showed the video to strangers, one of whom was an appalled off-duty arson investigator, who contacted police.

Court documents note Barrett's alleged history of substance abuse, and state that on the day of the attack he had not only been off his medication for weeks, but that he'd been drinking scotch.

Prior to the attack, Barrett is talking in the video and says that he is unable to attack a defenseless person and had been trying for about a week but he'd been unable to carry out the plan.

"They hit defenseless people," he said in an apparent reference to the knockout video craze from a few years ago. "I'm not going to go that low. I'm completely unable to do that."

At one point, Barrett stops his vehicle and let's out a laugh that an FBI agent described as sinister.

"How is it going, man?" Barrett says as he steps onto the street and the camera pans toward the victim. Barrett gets closer to the man, then a smack is heard as the man falls.

Barrett again laughs and says "Knockout. Knockout, baby," and drives away. The name of the victim has not been made public.

Barrett pleaded guilty in a bid for leniency, and was sentenced in October.

Dr. David Self, a psychiatrist hired by the defense, said bipolar disorder and drug use converged to "energize" Barrett's "willingness to pursue a goofy idea."

Conrad Barrett, 27, exits the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse on Friday after being denied bail. Conrad Barrett, 27, exits the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse on Friday after being denied bail. Photo: James Nielsen, Staff Photo: James Nielsen, Staff Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Feds release video in "knock out" attack in hate crime case 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

He testified that Barrett, a married man who had a family to support and had earned more than $100,000 a year, diverged from his normal behavior.

"But for the presence of mental illness and substance abuse, this offense would not have occurred," Self testified, adding that Barrett had no history of "acts considered to be racist."

Staff writer Cindy George contributed to this report.