Homeless man attacked in Fresno, advocate reacts

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Surveillance footage shows a man approaching a homeless person on the ground and repeatedly kicking him. Fresno Police are still trying to find the suspect and are asking for community’s help.

Officers from the Fresno Police Department’s Central Policing District say they responded to 936 E. Olive Ave. regarding a report of an assault on Aug. 26 around 2 a.m.

“He was conscious but had suffered significant injuries to his head. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment,” Fresno Police Officer Luke Tran said. “The victim could only tell officers, detectives, that he was asleep and suddenly awoke after being repeatedly struck on his head.

According to Officer Tran, the 9-1-1 caller was located and stated that they witnessed another male adult standing over the victim repeatedly kicking him in the head. After the assault, the suspect fled the scene eastbound on Olive Ave.

The news of the attack is spreading amongst homeless advocates, including the Fresno non-profit We Are Not Invisible.

“I’ve become very numb to the amount of violence that is on the streets with the unhoused, so I’m getting used to it. My first response was, ‘again?’ Then it was, ‘who?'” We Are Not Invisible founder Dez Martinez said.

Martinez said she knows of the person that was attacked and is frustrated that these incidents continue happening.

“There’s a lot of stores, a lot of cameras. There’s a lot of people out in the streets. Also, there’s vendors that are also on the street selling stuff. It sounds like the streets have done more of investigation,” Martinez said.

Martinez also said she and the unhoused community hope justice can be served.

“This is something we’re totally against. I mean, they’re upset, they’re mad. They’ve all seen the videos. They, too, want to know where is he and where is this individual,” Martinez said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Fresno Police Department at 559-621-7000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.