Mall vendor critical after attack

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — A mall vendor is in critical condition right after two men attacked him as he left his job.

Investigators told Channel 2's Tom Jones the attack was all caught on video surveillance and hope by releasing the video they will be able to catch the attackers.

The video shows two men brutally beating a vendor at the discount mall in College Park. After the attackers assault the 52-year-old man, they take off in his van.

"They took his portfolio, his wallet and his keys. (Also) an undetermined amount of cash," Sgt. Jeff Hightower of the College Park Police Department said.

The victim remains in critical condition.

Thanks to surveillance video at the mall, police have been able to piece together how at least three men cased the mall, waiting for the victim to come out.

"It's almost as if he's searching for someone," Hightower said.

Cameras captured a person in a white T-shirt and red shorts with a black stripe spend several minutes walking around the mall.

"He's got a very distinctive gait," Hightower said about the man.

He then comes out of the mall and walks over to two men.

"(He came) out and let the two accomplices know what was going on. As they were obviously lying in wait and ambushed this man at his vehicle," Hightower said showing Jones the video.

The video shows after the attackers steal the man's van, they pick up the person who had gone into the mall as the look-out.

Police also are looking into whether a white Chevy Malibu was involved. Officers are asking for the public's help locating the attackers.

"We want them to know that if they come to College Park we are going to find them and we are going to bring them to jail," Hightower said.

If you have any information about the assault you can call College Park police at 404-768-8664.

WSBTV