Faqiang Chen is facing charges of aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon and attempted murder.
A Gerstein hearing took place on Friday since there was still no prompt judicial determination of probable cause filed against the defendant when he was brought to court.
Chen was represented by Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig while Assistant Attorney General Brian Gallagher appeared on behalf of the government.
The preliminary hearing starts at 9 a.m. on Sept. 3 while arraignment the was set for Sept. 14, at 9 a.m.
Department of Public Safety acting spokesman Jason T. Tarkong said a disturbance was reported to DPS at a barraks behind Chang’s Jewelry in San Antonio at about 4:30 a.m. on Friday.
Tarkong said patrol officers were dispatched to the area where they discovered a 53-year-old man whose head had bleeding. The victim was transported to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment.
Tarkong said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was asleep inside his room when the defendant struck his head several times with a hammer.
Tarkong said a CHC attending physician observed two linear lacerations on the victim’s forehead and about 10 jagged lacerations on the scalp.
The victim was in stable condition at the hospital.
Police arrested Chen on the scene and transported him to the Department of Corrections where he was booked and detained.
Tarkong said the hammer was recovered at the crime scene and secured as evidence.
“This case is under investigation and as of this time, no exact motive has been established in the attack,” Tarkong said.
