Jason Rios simply wished a burger.
The 15-year-old from Watts sat down with a buddy for dinner at an out of doors patio at Freedom Plaza off Century Boulevard on Tuesday when, with out warning, three boys attacked Jason and his buddy from behind, beating them as they scrambled for canopy.
Nobody intervened, in accordance with Humberto Rios, Jason’s older brother. There have been no safety guards current as Jason fell to the bottom and shielded his head along with his arms whereas his attackers kicked and punched. The assailants appeared to single out the boys and didn’t attempt to rob them, in accordance with household.
“We don’t suppose he stated something to those different folks earlier than they attacked him,” Humberto Rios stated.
The straight-A pupil from Simon Tech Excessive Faculty underwent an eight-hour emergency surgical procedure after the assault to cease bleeding in his mind. His buddy was additionally hospitalized. On Wednesday, police arrested a juvenile on suspicion of tried homicide; two different suspects stay at massive, Los Angeles police stated in a information launch.
“There’s no rationalization for why this occurred,” Jason’s older sister Nayeli Rios stated. “Jason by no means goes out. We all the time be sure to drive him to and from college. He simply stays at dwelling and performs video video games like Fortnite.”
Jason turned 15 on Might 10, just a few days earlier than the assault. He requested his mom to let him go on a typical teenage outing — burgers with a buddy. His household relented and advised him to ensure he had his telephone on, Nayeli Rios stated.
On Monday, Jason and his buddy ate burgers on the out of doors patio on the Behavior Burger Grill. Like a typical teenager, Jason got here dwelling and performed video video games with out elaborating about his dinner. He relayed to his household that it was uneventful.
On Tuesday, Jason went again along with his buddy to the identical out of doors patio. Shortly earlier than 7 p.m. they had been attacked. The attackers repeatedly punched and kicked Jason within the head. He fell, however was in a position to get again up and run away, Humberto Rios stated.
Humberto Rios then described what occurred subsequent.
The teenager stayed throughout the Freedom Plaza and ran to a close-by Panda Expres,s the place he referred to as his mom in a panic. She may inform her son had been attacked, however she couldn’t make out a lot else as a result of his speech was slurred. .
“She couldn’t perceive him. Solely half of his phrases had been popping out of his mouth,” Humberto Rios stated.
She drove to the Panda Categorical, however didn’t see something out of the unusual: no ambulances, no police automobiles.
She walked across the restaurant and located her son mendacity on a patio bench. He regarded up however was unable to say something.
The property administration firm at Freedom Plaza didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Friday.
The household took Jason to MLK Neighborhood Hospital in Willowbrook. However medical workers didn’t imagine Jason had been attacked or didn’t appear to note that the boy was vomiting blood, stated his sister, Nayeli Rios.
“A physician requested Jason if he was drunk,” she stated. “They didn’t appear to imagine he was attacked and struck within the head.”
Jason was unable to maintain his eyes open and was trembling whereas ready for medical consideration, in accordance with his household.
MLK Neighborhood Hospital didn’t instantly reply to requests to remark in regards to the Rios household‘s expertise, however what is obvious is that Jason was ultimately in a position to get a CT scan of his mind. Docs discovered bleeding in his mind, Nayeli Rios stated. He was transferred to Harbor-UCLA Medical Middle in Torrance and brought in for emergency surgical procedure. Jason was in surgical procedure for practically eight hours, Humberto Rios stated, and got here out round 6 a.m. on Wednesday with a tube down his throat.
Nayeli Rios noticed that her brother’s shaggy hair had been shaved for the surgical procedure and he was solely in a position to see out of 1 eye on account of swelling. Docs eliminated the tube from his mouth Thursday morning and lowered his sedation, Humberto Rios stated. Half awake, Jason’s phrases got here out garbled or too low for anybody to listen to. All his household may do was maintain his hand.
On Friday he underwent a second surgical procedure, Nayeli Rios stated. Jason’s household have arrange a GoFundMe marketing campaign to assist pay for his medical bills.
