A 48-year-old chef and father was relaxing in a jacuzzi in San Bernardino, California, when he was allegedly attacked and robbed by two young men. The incident occurred Friday night at the Creekside Village apartments.
Greg Medina, who works as a chef preparing meals for homeless individuals, was listening to a class lecture through earbuds when one of the assailants approached him from behind and kicked him in the head. A second assailant then took his iPhone, which was on the concrete edge of the jacuzzi. The attackers reportedly laughed as they fled the scene.
The stolen iPhone was valued at over $1,000, and Medina had recently finished paying it off. His AirPods were also lost, and his glasses were broken during the assault. Medina stated that the attack could have had more severe consequences, potentially leading to him losing consciousness or drowning in the jacuzzi.
Medina was able to track his stolen phone to a nearby apartment complex and subsequently contacted the police. He believes the suspects do not live in his complex but may be residents of the adjacent property. San Bernardino police are investigating the incident. The suspects could face felony charges for assault with a deadly weapon and robbery.
The assault left Medina with a concussion, and he was later diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. As the sole provider for his 12-year-old daughter, Medina could only afford to take one day off work. He expressed that the incident was a "pure act of violence" and "pure act of evil."
Medina described his attackers as teenagers or young adults and hopes that someone will recognize them and assist the police in their apprehension. He also emphasized the responsibility of parents in the upbringing of their children.
San Bernardino police are investigating the case. The suspects have not been identified. No information was provided regarding the race of the suspects or whether the attack was racially motivated.