PHILADELPHIA — A father of three from South Philadelphia, German Corona, is on the mend after enduring a brutal assault and robbery as he was making his way home after a late-night shift on Friday.
The 46-year-old, who had just completed a grueling 13-hour day splitting his time between two jobs, was walking home around 10:30 p.m. when he sensed danger approaching. It was near the 2500 block of South 10th Street that he noticed a group of individuals trailing him.
Surveillance footage from several Ring cameras positioned along the street captured the harrowing moments leading up to the attack. Aware of the potential threat, Corona attempted to avoid confrontation by crossing to the opposite side of the street. “When I see three guys, I moved to the other side. I think when they saw me move to the other side, they started running,” he recounted.
The video evidence shows the men pursuing him, drawing closer, and eventually surrounding him. In the footage, one of the assailants is seen gesturing toward Corona before the violent encounter ensues.
Describing the attack, Corona noted, “They don’t… they don’t say anything.” The silence of the assailants added to the shocking nature of the unprovoked attack.
“They don’t… they don’t say anything,” he said.
According to Corona, he was struck in the back of the head with an object and lost consciousness.
“They knocked me out for like one minute. When I wake up, I saw a lot of blood on the floor,” he explained.
Corona said that when he regained consciousness, the group continued beating him while he was on the ground.
“They started hitting my face and they tell me, ‘Give me the money.’ I just took my wallet and threw everything. I just had $200, that’s it,” he said.
He said the attackers took his cash and ran away.
Corona suffered a broken nose and required three staples to his head.
Neighbors came outside after hearing him call for help and assisted him until emergency crews arrived. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Corona said he believes the group appeared to be teenagers or young adults and said all but one appeared to be wearing masks.
The assault has left him shaken and afraid to walk alone at night.
“I walk on the street for like 10 years every night. Every night. Sometimes I come out from work at like 12 o’clock. Never worried, nothing. It’s always nice and quiet,” he said.
Neighbors said the incident has rattled the community.
“It’s horrifying, it’s absolutely horrifying to know that something like this can happen so close to home,” said Loretta Iannuzzi, who lives in South Philadelphia.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to walk in our neighborhoods,” she added.
Corona said he is taking time away from work as he recovers and hopes sharing his story prevents something similar from happening again.
“I don’t want it to happen again to anybody else,” he said.
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