VIDEO: Van Nuys bat attack caught on camera; search for suspect and 2 women underway

ByJohn Gregory and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Thursday, July 25, 2019
VIDEO: Search for suspect, 2 women underway after Van Nuys bat attack
Disturbing video shows the brutal attack of a man who is beaten with a baseball bat in Van Nuys earlier this year.

VAN NUYS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Disturbing video shows the brutal attack of a man who is beaten with a baseball bat in Van Nuys earlier this year.

Two women, along with the victim, were walking through the parking lot of a hotel located in the 5500 block of Sepulveda Boulevard in the early morning hours of Jan. 18.

Los Angeles police said one of the women motioned with her hand for another man, who was walking behind them.

The suspect came up to the victim and hit him several times in the face with a wooden bat. The victim fell to the ground and lost consciousness while the suspect continued to beat him, nearly killing him.

Police said the suspect stole the victim's wallet and cellphone. He, along with the two women, fled the location with the victim's property, police said.

Investigators are still looking for the male suspect and the two women who were with the victim.

Police say the man was set up. He thought he was meeting these women for sex.

"He thought he was going to have sex, but the girls lured him out to get some beer, and that's when, you see in the video, the female motioned for the suspect to come in for the robbery," said Detective Peter Barba.

When the suspect started swinging, it appeared even the two women were caught off guard and stopped the suspect from possibly killing the victim.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects should contact the LAPD.