A Los Gatos, CA women reportedly is the latest victim of the heinous “knockout game” that is being carried out across the nation’s cities. The woman had just dropped her daughter off at dance class when she was reportedly attacked.
The suspect allegedly “clocked” the woman with a vicious punch to her face, knocked her off her feet, and left her lying on the ground.
Police are looking for the suspect, described as a black man in his early to mid twenties who stands at around 5’9″ to 6′ tall, with short brown hair and a slender frame. CBS reported that he was wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, and a backwards white baseball cap.
“We heard a commotion like a thunk and a scream,” dance instructor Mariana Sorbal told KPIX 5. “It was in the middle of the day. It wasn’t even dark yet, it was full of people. So obviously they’re trying to look for attention,” Sorbal added. “It’s kind of scary, that someone thinks it’s a game to go ahead and punch people.”
The ballet teacher also told ABC News that the attacked women was doing well physically but that she was “really shocked” and that it was a “traumatic” and “emotional” experience for her. Due to the frequent occurrences of these violent attacks, one woman told ABC that she was planning on carrying a taser from now on.
Other residents are taking precautions as well, suggesting that it may be best to travel in pairs to help discourage “knockout game” attackers. “I think pepper spray is maybe a good idea, but if you’re being sucker-punched, you’re not going to see it coming so I don’t think there’d be enough time to react,” resident Gina Oliva said.
Jeffrey Butts of John Jay College told CBS, “I think teenagers get involved in this game to prove their manhood but what they prove is they are still children.”