Posted on November 06, 2009 by Spencer Pyke, Copy Editor
No charges have been filed relating to the alleged assault of two Lynchburg College students that occurred on Halloween.
LC freshman Michael "Mickey" Vernon said that he and fellow LC freshmen, Tim Barzditiz, Tim Milner and Andrew Episcopo were walking from campus to the Chevron located on Lakeside Drive when an African-American male approached them and assaulted Barzditiz.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. at the intersection of Blue Ridge Street and Jubal Street near campus, Public Information Officer Captain Brandon Zuidema of the Lynchburg Police Department said.
"A guy ran out of a house and started jogging nonchalantly towards us like he was going for a run," Barzditiz said. "Then he cocked a fist and hit me in the face. I started to defend myself and that's when Mickey tried to get him off of me."
After Barzditiz was assaulted Vernon said he attempted to pull the attacker off of his friend and as soon as he did he said eight or nine more males came from around the corner.
Vernon said he told the group that they did not want any problems and resumed to help Barzditiz before one of the other group members wrapped him up from behind and threw him to the ground.
"When I went to help [Barzditiz] again one guy wrapped his arms around me and threw me to the ground. I got up and he hit me in the face," Vernon said. "I started to fight back and hit him a few times. Then I put a lighter in my hand and one of guys yelled ‘he has a knife' and they all ran off."
Vernon said that they did not provoke anyone or know who the group was at all.
"The whole situation took place so quickly and was completely unprovoked," Vernon said.
All of the members of the group were wearing do-rags and were dressed in black. It was unclear if the other males had come from the same house of the initial attacker, Barzditiz said.
Barzditiz said that after the alleged assault Milner and Episcopo called 911 and the police arrived in less than five minutes. Barzditiz said the students were notified by the police that the assaulters do not live in the house they approached from.
LPD is working to identify the suspects or other parties involved, Zuidema said.
Graphic created from Google Maps.
The alleged assault took place at the intersection of Blue Ridge and Jubal Streets.
