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Santa Ana Police Hope Public Can Lead Them To Suspect Who Attacked 83-Year-Old Man

SANTA ANA (CBSLC.aom)   —  Officials in Santa Ana are hoping the public can help them identify the suspect in the beating of an 83-year-old man.

The attack occurred Friday around 6:10 a.m., police said.

The victim had just pulled into a parking lot at 5015 W. Edinger Street. After exiting his vehicle, the suspect struck the man without provocation. The suspect punched and kicked the victim multiple times knocking him to the ground and then hit him when he was on the ground several more times.

Authorities said the suspect is a black male, about 40-50 years of age, unshaven and wearing a gray long sleeve shirt or black sweater.

Video of the attack is disturbing to watch, but police released it in the hopes it would spur the public to action.

The victim was sent to a hospital where police say he remains Friday evening in critical but stable condition.

KCAL9's Stacey Butler said the 83-year-old grandfather -- identified as Tuan Nguyen -- was just going for his morning paper.

"It's very scary," said the victim's daughter, Julie Nguyen. "I've been praying, and I keep praying, that he comes out of this okay."

Julie and her brother Peter got the call about the attack this morning.

"I just couldn't believe someone could do this to our father," he said, "He's the nicest man. He's the last person you would think would be attacked, or have something like this happen. We're just shocked."

His sister added, "Whoever this man is, he is a sick man," she said about the suspect. "He needs help."

Store owners in the area describe the suspect as a homeless man they have seen hanging around recently.

He sucker punches the senior seemingly out of the blue.

Peter said the homeless man has been around for months and that his father even has exchanged pleasantries with the man.

Julie says her father is alert but "in a lot of pain." She also told Butler he has a fractured eye socket and chin. He also has bleeding on the brain.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact SAPD Detective Cpl. Leo Rodriquez at (714) 493-9135 or Orange County Crime Stoppers 1-855-TIP-OCCS

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