LOS ANGELES, CA – A visiting Danish national was beaten unconscious in an attack near the Venice Pier on Oct. 30, and one of two suspects has since turned himself in to police, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The attack happened about 12:35 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, near Speedway and Washington Boulevard in Venice, LAPD said. Detectives from the department’s Pacific Division are investigating it as a felony battery.
Suspect No. 2 surrendered at LAPD’s Pacific Station shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, authorities confirmed. Suspect No. 1 remained at large as of Sunday, Nov. 8, and the department said it was confident he would be in custody soon.
LAPD had not released the surrendered man’s name, booking status or charges, or the name of the victim.
Tourist found with head laceration
Responders found the visitor collapsed on the pavement, according to LAPD. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics treated him at the scene for a deep laceration to the right side of his head.
He was then taken to a trauma center with serious head injuries. The department has not released an update on his condition.
LAPD describes how the attack unfolded
LAPD released surveillance footage of the encounter and described the sequence of events as the footage shows it. Suspect No. 1, described as a Black man, approached the victim, slapped him in the face and knocked an object out of his hand.
Police said suspect No. 1 then pulled an object from the victim’s pocket. When the victim stepped forward, a second man, described as Hispanic, punched him in the face hard enough to knock him to the ground unconscious.
The investigation is being handled as a felony battery. The department has not described any other offense in connection with the attack.
Suspect descriptions released
Police described suspect No. 2 as wearing an oversized black T-shirt, black sweats and black-and-white sneakers. He has a beard, a mustache and glasses, and was carrying a black-and-white crossbody bag, according to LAPD.
The department released images of both suspects around Nov. 5 and 6 and asked the public to help identify them. Suspect No. 2 turned himself in shortly afterward.
Anyone who is arrested or charged is presumed innocent. The allegations remain subject to the criminal court process.
Councilmember calls attack unacceptable
Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park, who represents Venice on the City Council, commented on the case on Nov. 6 and 7. She said, “This kind of lawlessness is completely unacceptable, and I’m working closely with LAPD as they work to identify these suspects and get them off the streets.”
Park wrote that an innocent tourist was attacked by two men and left unconscious by the Venice Pier. She added that, “As leadership changes in City Hall, this is another important reminder that public safety must remain a top priority.”
She also noted that one suspect was in custody while the other remained at large.
Pacific Division handles the case
The Pacific Community Police Station is the LAPD station where suspect No. 2 surrendered. Its Pacific Division serves Venice and is the unit investigating the attack.
LAPD publishes a COMPSTAT Pacific Area Profile with crime counts by category for the Pacific Area, which includes Venice. The figures in the profile change with each reporting period.
Detectives seek information from the public
Detectives asked anyone with information about the attack or the suspects to contact Pacific Division Detective Patrick Foley at 323-369-1621 or by email at [email protected].
After hours, callers can reach the Pacific Division watch commander at 310-482-6334 or 877-LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips can be given to LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or at lacrimestoppers.org.
Search continues for suspect No. 1
The investigation remains active. Police have not announced an arrest of suspect No. 1, and charging information for the man who surrendered has not been made public.
