Woman brutally beaten with skateboard in Venice

ByLaura Montenegro and Melissa MacBride KABC logo
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Woman brutally beaten with skateboard in Venice
A woman was repeatedly hit and kicked by a large group of men in Venice Thursday night. Graphic cellphone video shot by an eyewitness shows the encounter unfold and one of the suspects hitting the victim with a skateboard.

VENICE, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman was repeatedly hit and kicked by a large group of men in Venice Thursday night. Graphic cellphone video shot by an eyewitness shows the encounter unfold and one of the suspects hitting the victim with a skateboard.

In the video, a woman is repeatedly hit and kicked as she lies crying and screaming on the ground. Screams can be heard from several people outside a local restaurant and bar pleading with the suspects to stop.

(WARNING: Video is disturbing)

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told Eyewitness News she called 911 after witnessing two victims being savagely beaten with skateboards. The witness says she wrapped a blanket outside one victim's head to stop the bleeding.

Los Angeles police responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call near Speedway and Windward Avenue at about 9 p.m. Upon arrival, officers located three victims.

All three victims, between 19 and 20 years old, were attacked with skateboards and transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

People who live and work in Venice say fights are not uncommon, but the video from Thursday night's incident is disturbing.

"I'm just really disgusted. Skateboards aren't to be used for violence like that, and I just hope that people don't think this is what we do in Venice," said skateboarder B. Waters.

The suspects remain at large. Investigators are working to determine if the attack is gang-related.

Anyone with further information was urged to contact police.