Investigators with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) suspect a carload of teens involved in a recent fatal crime spree previously assaulted a homeless man.
Zach Campbell was working at the Denny's on San Mateo Blvd. and tried to intervene when he saw a group of teenagers attacking a homeless man who had just left the restaurant after eating a meal, according to KRQE.
"We end up seeing that they jump this poor homeless guy and they beat him with his own stick. The poor guy ended up in the fetal position ... covering his own face, and it was horrible," Campbell told KRQE. "I immediately ran out and shouted at them, 'Stop, get off of him,' and when I got close enough, I put my hands out and told them to stop."
Campbell said the homeless man is known to frequent this particular Denny's, KRQE reported.
APD's public information officer posted on Twitter that investigators believe the teens were also involved in other incidents prior to the attack of the homeless man. This includes a hit-and-run accident and a large party with drinking, arguing, and fighting while carrying guns.
The tweet also noted officers believe the same group of nine teenagers crashed on University Blvd. under Interstate-40, killing two of the car's occupants and sending seven others to various Albuquerque-area hospitals for treatment.
