An elderly man was reportedly assaulted and set on fire in downtown Los Angeles by a suspect who is now in police custody.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call regarding an assault with a deadly weapon early Monday morning, discovering a 70-year-old man severely injured and on fire. Authorities confirmed he was transported to a hospital and is in “serious condition.”
Video footage shows emergency personnel treating the victim, who was on the ground with burned clothes as police cordoned off the area. Streets near W 6th St, just east of S Olive St, where the incident took place, are currently closed.
At least six officers were on-site while three paramedics helped load the man into an ambulance for urgent medical care.
Witnesses reported that they were on a bus when they saw a man attack the victim, stomping on his face and then setting him ablaze. Some witnesses said they exited the bus to extinguish the flames and administer CPR.
The victim’s current status is unclear, and while police continue to interview the suspect, no further information has been disclosed.
Downtown Los Angeles is known for having a higher crime rate compared to other city areas, especially concerning assaults and robberies, although recent statistics suggest a decline in violent crime.
This isn’t the first violent incident involving an elderly person in the downtown area.
In an unrelated case, the suspect, identified as Kenneth Gibson, was reportedly on parole for a previous murder when the assault occurred. Prosecutors allege he randomly stabbed 70-year-old Rifat Sultana Kazmi to death while she was walking in downtown. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, but the district attorney called it a “senseless” and “heinous” act that left the victim in critical condition.
