ROBBERS VIOLENTLY ASSAULT, INJURE MAN & WOMAN AT 24 HOUR FITNESS IN LA MESA

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Police Seek Suspects: 3 Hispanic Men with Shaved Heads; Reward Offered

 

October 2, 2009 (La Mesa) – Last night at approximately 8:28 PM, a man and woman were assaulted by three men and knocked unconscious outside the 24-Hour Fitness Center in La Mesa.

 

The 34 year old female victim was standing in the parking lot waiting for her 31 year old male friend to meet her. Two Hispanic men approached the victim and demanded her purse. She gave up her purse, but the men grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against a tree. The victim hit her head and briefly lost consciousness.

 

While she was being attacked,  her friend arrived and he attempted to intervene. A third Hispanic male suspect, who was acting as a lookout, approached the male victim from behind and struck him in the back of the head. He lost consciousness briefly.  When the victim came to, he was surrounded by the suspects, who were kicking and punching him in the head and torso, police report.

 

 

The suspects demanded property from the victim. The victim was reluctant to give up his property until one of the suspects pulled up his shirt and displayed a dark colored semi-automatic handgun in his waistband. The suspects were last seen on foot heading towards the Grossmont Trolley Station.

 

Both victims were transported to the hospital for treatment. The male victim complained of pain to his head and received contusions to his torso. The female victim complained of pain to her head, neck and back.

 

All three suspects were described as light skinned Hispanic males, 18-20 years old, 5’10” to 6’0”, with thin builds. They all had shaved heads and were wearing dark pants with white tank tops. Anyone with information should call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400.

 

You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS (or www.sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.
 


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Comments

follow up at 24 hour fitness -- apparent negligent reaction

I swim at the Grossmont 24 Hour Fitness. I was surprised this evening, 24 hours after last night's parking lot incident, that the evening employee (who only works weekend evenings) at 24 Hour Fitness had not been apprised by management that a crime had occurred the evening before. Neither had the full-time cleaning staff person.

I asked the front desk employee in which of the two parking lots the double assault occurred so that I might avoid that one. Of course, he couldn't tell me. The facility was devoid of any signs referring to client safety. Seems to be a case of laziness (best interpretation) on the part of 24 Hour Fitness, or (more likely) a negligent, profit-centered tip-toeing around an obligation to apprise clients of how to be safe when arriving and departing the center. Shame on 24 Hour Fitness.