Investigators are working a brutal beating that occurred outside a downtown Ruston restaurant early Saturday morning.
Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson said a young man volunteered to walk a woman from Ponchatoula’s on Park Avenue to her car because she was afraid to go by herself. A group of men accosted the man and beat him severely, leaving him with serious facial injuries.
Watson said the incident occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday morning but police did not learn of the beating until they were called to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center emergency room about 4 a.m.
A social media post on the incident said the 24-year-old victim and his friends were at Ponchatoula’s celebrating his birthday. Most of the group left, leaving the victim and two other friends. One of the friends, a woman, was uncomfortable going to her car and the victim followed her to make sure she was safe. The victim was beaten outside by a group of men, according to the post, including a severely fractured jaw.
The post, which has generated hundreds of comments, said the victim was transferred to a Jackson, Miss., hospital but family members later took him to a Shreveport hospital where he underwent surgery. He remains in the hospital for treatment. A GoFundMe account has raised over $4,000 with a goal of $20,000 to help pay the victim’s medical bills.
Watson said investigators have analyzed surveillance video from the scene and interviewed witnesses and are working with other agencies to take the suspects into custody. He said at least five suspects have been identified so far.
None of the identified suspects are from Ruston, Watson said. Investigators are still working to identify all the suspects.
Watson said arrests are forthcoming soon with at least some of the suspects facing charges of second degree battery, a felony.
In Louisiana, second degree battery is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for not more than eight years, or both.
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