Police are searching for a group of teenagers they say are responsible for beating and robbing a man near the Plaza on Saturday night, only blocks from the Plaza Art Fair.
The attack happened on a sidewalk along Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, across the street from Winstead's, at around 8:30pm on Saturday.
This is the second beating/robbery on block in 4 weeks. Similar incident happened at Winstead's lot in early Aug pic.twitter.com/jlEqeYXDN6
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) September 26, 2016
The victim told 41 Action News that he was heading to the Plaza Art Fair at the time of the attack.
"I was going to meet some of my friends., but I was alone and by myself," said the 29-year-old UMKC student, who asked to remain anonymous. "They saw a guy walking alone. They saw an easy target they were going to attack."
The victim told 41 Action News that as he was walking down the street, he approached a group of around a half dozen black male teenagers.
When they made space for him to walk through, the victim said he was suddenly attacked.
"It happened out of nowhere," he explained. "They basically knocked me down first and then they started kicking me."
Just spoke w/ victim of Plaza beating/robbery. Says he was jumped while walking to Plaza Art Fair on Sat night pic.twitter.com/58h295wE7N
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) September 26, 2016
Seconds after the attack, he said the suspects grabbed several items off of him and ran in the direction of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
"They stole my glasses, my wallet, my shoes, and my phone," he said.
The victim said he was taken to the emergency room following the attack.
On Monday, he had bruises to his head and face, as well as a bandage on his elbow.
The attacked happened around a month after a similar incident occurred in the parking lot of Winstead's across the street.
In late August, police say two theology students were attacked by a group of teens as they walked to their car.
The victim of Saturday's attack said he thought about the August incident before the night of his assault.
"That was actually in the back of my mind while I was walking, but I've never been attacked," he explained. "I've walked down that way a number of times."
The 29-year-old victim said police were able to find many of the stolen items scattered on the ground near the crime scene.
The items have since been returned to him.
However, police continue to search for the group of suspects.
The victim explained that he will never forget the night he was attacked, especially when he passes the area where the incident happened.
"Am I going to walk down this way after 9 o'clock on the weekend? No. I'm not going to do that anymore," he explained.
Police do not have a description of the suspects, but the victim stated that one of the suspects wore a white t-shirt and black cargo pants.
Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to call 816-474-TIPS (8477).
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
