Judge denies request to reduce bond in Falls Lake beating

Jesse Cole Shuping, 28, of 7900 N. Nevada Drive, was charged Aug. 17 with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He is being held in the Wake County jail under a $100,000 bond.

Kue Tai, 63, of Raleigh, told Wake County deputies that he was attacked near the intersection of New Light Road and Ghoston Road on Aug. 13.

Shuping’s attorney, Nick Saparilas, told District Judge Anne Salisbury on Wednesday that his client spent six years with the military, including one in Afghanistan, and was honorably discharged.

"I don't believe I heard that there was a deadly weapon involved. That would greatly reduce the bond," Saparilas said. "That's what I think the judge should have done. She didn't do that. That's her call."

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Lindow said Shuping's hands and feet were deadly weapons, based on his military background.

As a result of the attack, Tai lost vision in his left eye, Lindow said.

"According to the victim, the defendant said repeatedly he was going to kill him, and he was beaten severely about the head," Lindow said.

Investigators said Shuping is nearly 50 pounds heavier and a half-foot taller than Tai.

Lindow said Shuping was on probation in Virginia at the time of the attack. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Tai's family members attended Wednesday's hearing on his behalf. They said Tai had to literally crawl to the road to get help after the attack.

"This was a brutal attack that resulted in severe injuries. It's going to take a long time for him to recover fully. Some of these injuries are permanent," said Jason Lee, who is engaged to Tai's daughter.

Lee said family members just want to know the reason for the attack. "He wasn't doing anything to provoke any sort of incident, and it came out of the blue," he said.

Tai is a full-time cook at a Chinese restaurant, but his physical injuries have kept him out of work, Lee said.