GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities in Duluth are on a mission to track down a violent suspect responsible for two random attacks in the same location within a span of hours before fleeing from a shopping center. The first incident occurred when a 16-year-old was exiting a Kroger when a stranger suddenly punched him in the face, leaving him injured and bloodied in front of the store on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road at around 4 p.m.
Shortly after the assault on the teenager, the same suspect viciously attacked a man working at a car wash in a nearby Shell gas station, resulting in the victim suffering a broken back. The victim remains hospitalized, with doctors mentioning that it could take months for him to recover his ability to walk. Police have released surveillance footage of the incident, showing the assailant wearing a blue shirt, repeatedly kicking the victim before fleeing the scene.
Responding to the incidents, Cpl. Ted Sadowski of the Duluth police expressed a strong desire to capture the suspect and remove them from the community. Despite efforts to determine a motive behind the attacks, the victims were caught off guard by the violence inflicted upon them. The 16-year-old victim described the moment he was attacked, recounting how he was suddenly struck and left with blood covering his face, impairing his vision.
Witnesses and the victims have suggested that the suspect may have been undergoing a mental health episode or under the influence of drugs at the time of the attacks. This speculation was fueled by the seemingly erratic behavior of the suspect, which included running around and assaulting people without provocation.
The victims have expressed a hope that the suspect will be identified and apprehended to prevent further harm to the community. They emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of the public and preventing others from experiencing the trauma they have endured. Authorities are actively seeking any information or leads that may help in locating the suspect to hold them accountable for their violent actions.