A man randomly attacked by a group of teenagers in Nanaimo is recounting the frightening assault that left him on the ground with injuries to his face and neck.
Terrence, whose last name CHEK News is withholding to protect his identity, was walking from the 7-11 in Harewood Monday morning at around 7 a.m. when he first saw the group, consisting of four to six youths in the vicinity of 560 Fourth St.
According to a police report, the group appeared to be laughing and joking amongst themselves as he walked by. According to the victim, he didn’t exchange words or looks with any of the teenagers as he walked by, but then was suddenly punched in the head.
“It happened so fast. I only remember getting hit in the back of the head turning around, trying to block as much as I can but it wasn’t effective,” he said.
“And when I go down they kick me right in the face and then I lost consciousness, and then when I came through they were already gone. They were running.”
The last time the group was seen, they were running westbound along Fourth Street, according to police.
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Only two individuals in the group were involved in the assault and Terrence could only provide a partial description of his attackers.
One of the suspects was described as a 16- to 17-year-old with short curly hair, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts.
The other suspect was described as being around the same age with long blond hair. He was wearing a grey T-shirt.
Both of the teens who attacked the local man were males.
Terrence was taken to hospital for concussion-like symptoms, bruises and abrasions following the attack.
Upon arriving at the hospital, police say the victim’s left eye was swollen shut and he had a number of scrapes and abrasions across his face and neck.
“You hurt a guy who has a family and they care about me. I have kids, probably the same age as you guys,” says the victim of a Nanaimo swarming by teenagers. The father of 4 in his own words on @CHEK_News at 5. @NanaimoRCMP https://t.co/qSIs9bvjIl pic.twitter.com/6zuyWQ9tBT
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) September 29, 2021
Terrence, a father of four, had a message for his attackers on Wednesday.
“You hurt a guy who has a family and that family, they care about me,” he said. “I have kids, probably the same age as you guys,”
Anyone with information on this incident or anyone who may have seen this group of teenagers is being asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2021-36463.
With files from CHEK’s Skye Ryan
Graham Cox
