Video Captures Man Being Brutally Beaten With Bat, Robbed In Van Nuys; 3 Suspects Sought
VAN NUYS (CBSLA) – Investigators are searching for a man who was caught on surveillance video back in January brutally beating another man with a baseball bat in the parking lot of a Van Nuys hotel -- and then robbing him -- all with the help of two female accomplices.
The attack occurred on Jan 18 at around 1:15 a.m. in the parking lot of a hotel in the 5500 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, across from the Sepulveda Basin, according to Los Angeles police.
Police told CBS2 the victim initially met two women who he had contacted on Backpage, where they were posing as prostitutes. The three had decided to go out for a beer when he was assaulted.
The video released by police Wednesday shows the victim walking with the two women. One of them appears to motion with her hand, and then the suspect suddenly appears with a baseball bat. The victim tries to run, but the suspect catches him and violently beats him with the bat.
According to police, the victim was hit in the head multiple times and lost consciousness. While he was unconscious, the suspect hit him several more times in the face with the bat.
The suspect walked over to a nearby vehicle where he discarded the bat, police said. He returned to the unconscious victim and stole his phone and wallet.
The suspect and the two women then fled. It's unclear if they left in a car or on foot.
Police said the suspect suffered serious injuries in the attack.
The male suspect was wearing a brown or orange hooded jacket, dark pants and white tennis shoes. One woman was wearing a black top, blue jeans and black tennis shoes. The other was wearing a black top and dark pants.
Anyone with information on their identities should call LAPD detectives at 818-374-0087.