A 61-year-old Chinese immigrant who was brutally attacked last April while collecting cans on a New York City street has died from his injuries, authorities said.

Yao Pan Ma had remained hospitalized and never regained consciousness following the assault in East Harlem, a family spokesperson said. He died on Dec. 31, police said Saturday.

Jarrod Powell, 49, was initially charged with attempted murder and two counts of assault as a hate crime in the attack, charges he pleaded not guilty to.

The case has now been designated a homicide following Mas death, police told HuffPost on Monday, though upgraded charges had not yet been filed.