SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man who was found guilty in the 2021 death of a beloved elderly Thai grandfather known as "Grandpa Vicha" will be released on probation, a judge ruled on Thursday. Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84, died after being violently shoved to the ground in San Francisco's Anza Vista neighbor hood. H Mart grand opening in Dublin draws huge crowds Antoine Watson, 25, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Ratanapakdee's death. The incident was caught on video and became a catalyst for a larger movement against violence targeting Asian Americans. Flowers are left with a picture of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, as hundreds of people hold a rally Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in San Francisco and five other U.S. cities to remember the death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee. The grandfather from Thailand was assaulted while on a morning walk a year ago in his San Francisco neighborhood and died two days later, never regaining consciousness. (AP Photo/Janie Har) On Thursday, Judge Linda Colfax sentenced Watson to eight years. Having already served five years, the remaining three years of Watson's sentence will be suspended if he adheres to the terms of his probation. “I offer my heartfelt condolences to Grandpa Vicha’s family and friends who miss him dearly and are doing everything they can to heal from this senseless tragedy," said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. "Mr. Watson was charged with murder based on the facts and law.  We re-reviewed the charges to determine if there was evidence to proceed on a hate crime, and did not find sufficient evidence to proceed on that theory.  Murder and hate crimes all turn on a defendant’s mental state, which is often inferred from surrounding circumstances." "We presented all the evidence we could and the jury returned a guilty verdict of involuntary manslaughter," Jenkins added. Jenkins said that while her office respected the jury's verdict, she understood that "many in our community are disappointed by this verdict and deeply concerned about what it means for AAPI victims of crime." Ratanapakdee's family sent KRON4 the following statement in response to the verdict: “Today’s sentence is deeply disappointing. An 84-year-old man was killed in a cruel, unprovoked attack, and our family will live with this loss every day. This is not about revenge—it is about accountability. When consequences do not match the harm, it sends the wrong message about protecting our seniors and public safety. We are concerned about what this means for other families." ...read more read less