HEMET (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say an elderly woman was in stable, but critical, condition on Friday after allegedly being beaten by a group of suspected vandals in Hemet.
Sources told CBS2’s Jeff Nguyen the suspects also allegedly poured bleach on the unidentified victim during the attack at the Camelot Retirement Community on West Oakland Avenue.
Nguyen said the suspects, believed to be a couple of teens, also allegedly vandalized a number of vehicles at the facility early Thursday morning around 3 a.m. before attacking the woman.
“One of the cars … the VW … things were torn out of it, I understand. The wiring was loose. They jammed a screwdriver in the ignition switch,” Bill White, a resident, said. “I think it’s a random event.”
“What is the sense in that? Are they just nasty,” said Sandy Bailey, a new resident to the facility. “We thought this was going to be really safe because it’s all gated.”
So far, police have made one arrest — a 15-year-old — and are reportedly on the trail of a second suspect, according to Nguyen.
Residents told KCAL9’s Rachel Kim they were outraged about the viciousness of the assault. They also told her the victim was 80-years-old and bound as she was beaten.
“Everybody just became absolutely outraged with the severity of the attack,” said a concerned citizen named Janet. “She has bleach in her lungs, her eyes, just horrible. She’s in a medically-induced coma.”
Anyone with more information about the case was asked to call Detective Doug Klinzing at (951) 765-2423.
