A 15-year-old high school baseball player from San Pedro (Calif.) High School was in critical condition as of Saturday evening after he was the victim of a brutal attack from two men.
Police said Evan Jimenez, who plays freshmen and junior varsity baseball, was walking home from a friend’s house at about 10 p.m. Thursday when two men who were described as “gang members” beat him with bottles and choked him.
“The victim sustained serious injuries after he was assaulted by two unknown males, leaving him unconscious,” Lomita sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Ford said, via the Daily Breeze. “Minutes after the assault, a vehicle pulled into the alley and took (Jimenez) to the hospital.”
The driver of the vehicle Jimenez was transported to the hospital in dropped the 15-year-old at the emergency room and did not stick around to identify himself. The victim’s mother, Charlene Douthit, said on Facebook that she is “heartbroken” and her son is fighting for his life. San Pedro High School head baseball coach Steve Tedesco praised Jimenez for his character.
“He’s a great kid with an infectious personality,” Tedesco said. “We liked his baseball talent and his character. He works extremely hard at the game and in the classroom. We’re all praying for him.”
A Go Fund Me page that was started for Jimenez features a graphic photo of him laying in a hospital bed with his injuries. Nearly $35,000 had been raised for Jimenez and his family as of Sunday afternoon.
“March 30, 2017, seemed like just another regular good day,” a friend wrote on the Go Fund me Page. “After a great win of 20-0 against Gardena, one of our own San Pedro High School JV Baseball Players was jumped and beaten by 2 men when he was walking home from a friend’s house.
“Evan was hit over the head/face with a Jack Daniels bottle, stepped on, and brutally beaten beyond recognition and left unconscious to die in an alley. Little did these horrible men realize how strong our Evan is.”
The incident is still being investigated. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lomita station at 310-539-1661.
