Victim Of Alleged Assault In Center City Speaks Out
By Steve Patterson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One of the victims assaulted and seriously injured during an alleged attack in Center City is speaking out.
Philadelphia Police are asking for the public's help to catch the suspects.
"It's pretty painful."
While you can't really see his injuries, 34-year-old Sam Sierra says he has to take several pills to get through a day of searing headaches and an episode that could cause serious damage.
"My ears start to have a kid of ringing sensation and then my head again just has this physical pain."
This week police released surveillance video of Sam in the early hours of December 27th.
Surveillance Video via Philadelphia Police
Sierra is walking from his job as a doorman at Tabu Bar.
He and a manager walking north on 12th Street near Chestnut.
In the video you can see a group of five men and women approach, words are exchanged, before two men break away from the group and allegedly start pummeling Sierra.
Police say they were looking for a fight.
"It's just unfortunate that you have individuals like these two gentlemen that were in this group walking around looking to assault someone," said Philadelphia Police Lt. John Stanford.
Sierra was beaten so badly the internal bleeding in his skull left him hospitalized for a week.
He only remembers the last three days.
"I hope they are captured. Certainly."
Now back home, Sierra says he has a long and costly road to recovery involving more tests, pills and hospital visits.
Despite all that, he's thankful.
"I mean I could get angry but at the end of the day I still have my life."
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