In what was the second violent attack in Morgan Hill in less
than two days, a homeless man was assaulted while riding his bike
through the Village Avante Apartment complex last Monday.
Morgan Hill – In what was the second violent attack in Morgan Hill in less than two days, a homeless man was assaulted while riding his bike through the Village Avante Apartment complex last Monday.
“We don’t have any explanation for it,” Morgan Hill police Cmdr. Joe Sampson said. “On occasion, these things come in bunches, then it will return to what is typical, with them being spread out, more under the normal cadence of things. We don’t have any nexus between the two.”
According to Sampson, officers responded to a business at Monterey Road and Cosmo Avenue where the victim, John E. King, 41, of San Jose was taking refuge after escaping from the suspects on foot.
King told officers that he was riding his bicycle in the Village Avante complex at approximately 10:45pm when possibly eight suspects attacked him, kicking and punching him and hitting him on the head with a steel bar.
It is not clear, Sampson said, if there was a motive for the assault.
Nothing was stolen from King, and his bicycle was recovered at the scene. King told officers he did not know the suspects.
“We’re still looking into why he was there, whether he was visiting friends or there for some other activity,” Sampson said. “We haven’t pieced it all together yet. This has been a bad week, with staffing down due to bereavements and injuries. We are also trying to prepare for the upcoming holiday weekend.”
He was treated at the business after an employee called 911. He was then taken by ambulance to Saint Louise Regional Hospital where he was treated for a cut on the back of his head, likely from the impact of the pipe, a swollen eye and contusions on his face. He was released after treatment.
After interviewing King, officers canvassed the Village Avante complex, looking for witnesses of the incident. They talked to many people, Sampson said, but apparently no one witnessed the event.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective Sgt. David Swing at 776-7698.
