We all do it. We put on headphones or earbuds and listen to books, music or other downloads and walk to work.
That is what a 32-year-old woman did just after 7 a.m. Friday morning in the Mission. She was on her way to work downtown, but on York between 18th and 19th streets, someone hit her over the head with a blunt object. She never saw it coming.
“He tried to take her bag and ran off on foot,” wrote her roommate.
The victim had to have her head stapled, according to her friend. She has brain swelling and some hearing loss in her left hear.
If you have any information about the man in the photo, please contact police at the anonymous tip line: 415-552-4558.
And, as her roommate wrote, “be hyper-aware, even in the morning.”
Crime is trauma and the county offers different services. Here is a link to a page of services.
Victims of violent crime can contact the Trauma Recover Center at UCSF.
I see a lot of victim-blaming happening on this site and it’s very disappointing. Any person should be able to walk in this city without being brutally attacked. Blaming the victim for their “carelessness” or “stupidity”, as some would put it, is taking the responsibility for the violence of the attacker out of the equation. While I agree that we should all make wise choices to keep ourselves safe, I do not accept that acts of violence should be an expected result of letting your guard down on a public street.
Thanks,Lydia, for writing this and making people aware of what happened to my daughter! People need to be aware of their surroundings, even during daylight hours!
Laura
You’re welcome and I hope your daughter is doing better. It’s terrible when things like this happen. All the best, Lydia
It makes for a catchy open to your article, “We all do it…” But we don’t all do it. Don’t walk Mission Streets with anything in your ears, people.
Also, on a grammatical note, you have a typo:
“She has brain swelling and some hearing loss in her left hear.”
I think you mean “her left ear”.
Cheers.
The same happened to me about a month and a half ago near the corner of folsom and 8th. I dont remember much, i was left with a concussion and bleeding in the brain. fortunately, im fine now but still deal with slight dizzyness. I dont remember much from the incident, just flashes, i remember passing a group of 4 – 5 men on the street one carrying a “blunt object” and i remember running at one point, next i was waking up in the emergency room. There was one other man in the emergency room who seemed to have been hit by the same person or persons. Please be aware, i think this is organized.
I’m so sorry to hear this. And yes, a good reminder to be aware. All the best, Lydia
It would have been helpful to put in the time of the morning that this occurred. For instance, was it morning while still dark, or after the sun rose? Thanks.
Kevin: Yes, thank you. I’ve added the time. Best, Lydia
It is not true that “we all do it.” As a contentious resident, I would never walk around with headphones or my ears plugged up. You must always be hyper aware and use your senses to keep safe. I am surprised at the number of people I see doing this… it’s completely illogical.