Tulsa man survives violent attack by group of teens

An assault case that is so violent and so senseless, it shocked even Tulsa Police. The victim is a 75-year-old war veteran and successful Tulsa businessman. He was beaten nearly to death, not for his

Tuesday, December 6th 2005, 10:33 am

By: News On 6

An assault case that is so violent and so senseless, it shocked even Tulsa Police. The victim is a 75-year-old war veteran and successful Tulsa businessman. He was beaten nearly to death, not for his car or his money or any other reason.

As News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains, you can help him get justice.

The pictures, as horrible as they are, barely begin to cover Bob's injuries, a broken arm, cracked jaw, brain blood clot and a right eyeball nearly yanked from its socket.

He'd stopped at a gas station near 61st and Peoria about a month ago, at 2:30 PM, as he'd done many times.

About a dozen teenage boys walked slowly in front of his car, so he tooted his horn. One of the boys said Bob nearly ran over him. "That's not my thing. I'd never run over or try to hurt somebody."

Bob says he started pumping gas, when something hit him in the back of the head. "When I regained consciousness, I was on my hands and my knees with blood coming out of my mouth and nose."

The next time he came to, it was in the hospital. He's stunned by the viciousness of the attack, for no reason. "Lori, I never saw these guys before. I don't know them. They just attacked me, is what they did. I'm going to try to get the charge updated from aggravated assault to attempted murder."

A witness says one of the men, who's short, skinny with medium dark skin and long braids, goes by the street name of â€˜T.â€™

Tulsa Police say some of the people who frequent the store, even work there, know who â€˜Tâ€™ is, but they're too afraid to call police. They say it's time for the fear to end. Bob, who traveled the world for business and served his country in Korea, wants his attackers arrested. â€œThose kinds of people don't have any business on the streets. Lot of people work hard for their freedom and this is how they pay them back, by trying to kill them. It just plain isn't right." Certainly not, in any type of civilized society.

If you saw the attack November 8th at 61st and Peoria or know â€˜Tâ€™, call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. You don't have to give your name and if your tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a $1,000 cash reward.