Man in critical condition after Downtown Berkeley assault

[OmahaBlueDog]

Source: Daily Cal

Witnesses recounted a gruesome scene that left bystanders in shock. Mateen Habib, a bar manager at Jupiter tavern, described the incident as “animalistic.”

“What was really disturbing was that this guy was down, unconscious, and continued to get beaten up,” Habib said. “That, to me, passes to a whole new level of inhumanity.”

Police said the suspect stopped to break a passing motorist’s window and then continued to beat the victim. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect strike the victim at least 10 times.

...

“I kept yelling,” Habib said. “ ‘The cops are coming, man, the cops are coming. They’re on their way, they’re on their way, you’d better stop.’ And he just didn’t seem to care. He just stood there and casually walked into the car and casually drove.”

Read more: http://www.dailycal.org/2013/10/23/man-critical-condition-downtown-assault/

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Good grief.

[11cents]

2. Gulp

This happened a couple of blocks from where I work. First I've heard of it.

[Shrike47]

3. Awful. I wonder what, if anything, provoked this.

[loudsue]

4. Meth? n/t

[IrishAyes]

5. Maybe the thug wanted the car?

[840high]

6. Unbelievable. Tragic.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. The suspect who beat the victim with a crowbar has been arrested for attempted murder.

[OmahaBlueDog]

9. Berkeleyside - Man arrested after attempted murder, car crash in Berkeley

The suspect, Duane Nailor, 54, of Texas, is being treated in a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries suffered during the collision. Nailor has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and related violations to be determined, according to police.

At approximately 12:45 a.m., police received numerous calls reporting a man being violently beaten at the northeast corner of Shattuck Avenue and Center Street, according to a statement released by the Berkeley Police Department on Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect using a weapon to beat the victim, who was down on the ground. The suspect also broke the car window of a passing motorist, then returned to beat the victim.

The statement continues: “As officers approached, the suspect fled west on Center Street, driving a sport utility vehicle. Witnesses directed the officers towards the suspect’s vehicle, which was westbound on Center Street. The suspect turned from Center Street north into the southbound traffic lane of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, where he struck a responding police car. The suspect then fled at a high rate of speed, speeding north on Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

“Officers pursued the vehicle, but lost sight of the vehicle due to its high rate of speed. As officers arrived in the area of the Alameda and Hopkins Street, they found the suspect’s vehicle had been involved in a solo vehicle collision, and the suspect attempting to flee on foot. The suspect was taken into custody. Officers determined the vehicle had collided with a tree on the Alameda north of Hopkins Street. The vehicle’s right side was sheared open by the impact with the tree.”

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2013/10/23/man-arrested-for-attempted-murder-in-downtown-berkeley/

[ellenrr]

8. is there any idea re motive?