LAPD seeks two men in Oct. 30 Venice attack on Danish tourist
Surveillance video shows the victim sustaining a deep head wound and being knocked to the ground near Washington Boulevard and Speedway.
By Michael Bennett ·
The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for public help to identify two men who attacked a Danish tourist in the Venice neighborhood.
The incident took place shortly after midnight on Friday, Oct. 30, near the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Speedway. According to surveillance footage released by police, the tourist was standing near a pole when a man wearing a blue hat approached and exchanged words with him. The man in the blue hat then struck the victim on the side of the head and knocked an item from his hands, resulting in a brief scuffle.
A later section of the video captures the tourist standing near scooters at the street corner. The man in the blue hat is seen pulling at the tourist's pocket before a second man approaches and strikes the victim, causing him to fall to the ground. Police stated the tourist was treated for serious injuries, including a deep cut on the right side of his head.
Local residents expressed frustration with the incident. Venice Beach resident Bad Brad commented on the physical nature of the conflict, saying, "Thats how people deal with things around here - they just knock em out." Another resident, Ponch Gutierrez, noted the difficulty of recognizing visitors in the area, stating, "We get a lot of tourist we get people from other hoods that come here - and it's hard to really recognize anybody."
Police have released images of the two suspects they are seeking. The suspects have not yet been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
