Atlanta

Police say home invader brutally beat man inside his own apartment

ATLANTA — A man is clinging to life after a brutal beating and home invasion.

Tuesday marked one week since police say Frederick Hunter broke into a Jack Lipsius’ apartment and beat him so badly, that Lipsius, 69, remains on life support at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Doctors say he has "severe trauma to his head and face."

Neighbors who heard about the vicious attack, told Channel 2's Michael Seiden that they are still in shock.

“He was a real community guy. Wouldn’t hurt a fly," a neighbor said, asking not to be identified.

The attack happened Aug. 27 around 7 a.m. at an apartment complex near Centennial Olympic Park.

“I heard that they kicked in his door and beat his brains out,” the neighbor said.

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Derrick Williams told Seiden he had just gotten up when he saw police outside the Centennial Place Apartment Homes.

“I was just waking up and I walk outside. I walk to the circle and I see all the policemen and detectives, crime scene tape. The same ones off First 48,” Williams said.

Police say Hunter attacked Lipsius and left him for dead outside his third-floor apartment unit. Investigators said when they arrived, they found Lipsius lying face down in a pool of his own blood.

Investigators said Lipsius called 911 to report a break-in at his apartment. According to the police report that Seiden obtained from Atlanta police, "the 911 dispatcher heard loud screaming in the background and then the phone line disconnect(ed)."

The following day, police arrested Hunter for a different crime outside the Salvation Army on Marietta Street.

"The victim was asked for 50 cents by the suspect. When the victim told him no, the suspect then assaulted him, punched him in the face. He fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious," said Sgt. John Chafee with the Atlanta Police Department.

Investigators showed surveillance video and photos to several witnesses and ultimately linked Hunter to both crimes.

Hunter remains in jail on multiple charges, including aggravated assault with intent to murder.

Lipsius remains on life support.