Mar 20
Man Brutally Beaten in Unprovoked West Hollywood Attack
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A man was left bloodied and bruised after an unprovoked attack in West Hollywood on March 17.
As reported by KTLA 5, the victim, David Velasquez, was reportedly riding a scooter home from a store when he was hit.
"I was heading east and he was coming back this way and that's when, for no apparent reason, he slapped me across the face," explained Velasquez, who considers himself "lucky to have survived."
He added, "My whole life was flashing before my eyes as he was pounding my head into the ground."
Before the attack, a male suspect allegedly yelled a homophobic slur at Velasquez as he was traveling on the sidewalk near Santa Monica Boulevard and Hancock Avenue.
Velasquez reportedly turned to confront the suspect, and he said he regrets the decision.
According to Velasquez, his attacker was "on top of me with his knee trying to slam my head back into the pavement saying 'Die, f***** die!'"
Residents in the area were reportedly shocked to hear about the incident, but one resident by the name of Chad Cromer said the attack is but another sign that the neighborhood safety is changing.
"I've lived here 18 years and I can say in the last three years or so, it's terrible," said Cromer, who said he feels unsafe walking the streets.
As Velasquez was being attacked, he said bystanders stopped and recorded the incident, however no one offered to help until a man jumped out of his car to intervene.
"Any assault, as well as any assault that would involve hate crime activity, needs to be fully investigated," said John Erickson, Mayor of West Hollywood. "We have more sheriffs on the street than we ever had and we have more unarmed security ambassadors walking along the street, especially in our entertainment district, than we've ever had before."
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating the case.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Watch this news report from KTLA 5:
