A man has been captured on surveillance camera sucker punching a senior citizen while the victim was cleaning a sidewalk near a Chicago building, in what appears to be a random attack.
The video was made public by the Chicago Police Department on Sunday. In it, an unidentified man is seen sucker punching the elderly cleaner once in the face before he flees the scene.
Police said the attack happened on July 23 at about 3 p.m. in the West Jackson Boulevard District, also known as the West Jackson Historic District. In the description of the video, authorities asked the public to help detectives identify the suspect.
The clip that was shared by the department on Facebook shows the victim holding his sweeping tools as he appears to be looking at the ground, searching for spots he might have missed. The suspect is seen coming from a distance, walking in the direction of the cleaner.
A moment later, as the two men cross paths on the sidewalk, the suspect lands a sucker punch in the face of the elderly man, who is knocked back and falls to the ground.
Authorities haven’t disclosed any additional details on the condition of the victim. His identity was also not released.
The suspect is described as a black male, wearing a white-colored tank top, blue shorts, and blue shoes.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on the suspect to call Area 3 Detective Stevens at (312) 744-8269.
Uptick in Crime
Chicago has recently seen a surge in violent crime, including deadly shootings.
According to the latest crime statistics, more than 470 homicides have been recorded so far in Chicago in 2020. Meanwhile, more than 2,500 people have been shot.
On Monday, police confirmed that weekend shootings in the city killed five people, including an 18-year-old who was found lying on the sidewalk with several gunshot wounds. At least 59 others were reportedly wounded from gunfire.
During weekend shootings one week earlier, at least 36 people were injured and four people killed.
Widespread looting and vandalism in the city also took place on Aug. 9 after a police-involved shooting. Demonstrations turned violent on the night of Aug. 15 when protesters began attacking police officers with bottles, skateboards, and other objects, leaving 17 officers injured.
A Chicago prosecutor said her office filed 42 charges related to the looting that took place in the city overnight last Sunday.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, previously said that 1,000 officers would be sent downtown after a round of looting incidents at businesses and neighborhoods.
“Whether it’s in our downtown commercial district or in one of our other 77 neighborhoods, there can never be any place in Chicago where businesses are afraid to open, where residents and visitors are afraid to travel and shop,” Lightfoot said, according to ABC7.
Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
