A single father who works as a chef was brutally attacked while sitting in a hot tub by two 13-year-old boys who later said they carried out the assault for a TikTok video.
Gregory Medina had been unwinding in the hot tub at his San Bernardino, California, apartment complex on the evening of August 14 after a demanding day preparing meals for the homeless through his job as a chef with the nonprofit Lutheran Social Services.
Medina, who had recently gone back to school, was listening to a class lecture through his AirPods when two teens came up behind him.
Surveillance video from the apartment complex showed one of the 13-year-old suspects kicking Medina in the back of the head, while the other bent down and grabbed the single father’s phone before both boys ran away.
The sudden, unprovoked attack threw Medina forward, sending his glasses and AirPods flying. After turning around to see who had struck him, he realized his phone had been taken and tried to run after the teenagers, but he could not catch them.
Medina called police and tracked the stolen phone to a nearby apartment complex, though authorities could not determine the exact unit where it was located. The teens later admitted they got rid of the evidence by ditching the phone, KABC reports.
The San Bernardino chef went to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed him with a concussion. As a single father and sole provider for his 12-year-old daughter, Medina was unable to miss work even while dealing with severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, neck pain and shoulder pain, according to a GoFundMe set up by his sister.
On Friday, one week after the hot tub assault, the boys’ parents turned them in to police. Medina told KABC the parents also called him directly to apologize.
Gregory Medina, a single father and chef, suffered an unprovoked attack by two 13-year-olds who were filming for a TikTok video. He is pictured with his 12-year-old daughter
Medina visited the teenagers after they were arrested and said her forgave them. He is pictured with his daughter in 2020
Surveillance footage from Medina’s apartment complex captured the suspects kicking him in the back of the head and stealing his phone. The single father suffered a concussion
‘He was very apologetic and saying his son made a stupid mistake, but he understands that he did need to be held accountable,’ Medina told the outlet while discussing a call he received from one of the teens’ fathers.
Both of the 13-year-olds, who were not named by police, were arrested on felony robbery charges. The one who kicked Medina in the head is also facing an assault charge.
Medina went to the San Bernardino Police station to meet his alleged assailants and was remarkably gracious.
‘I never once raised my voice or yelled at them or belittled them. I wanted them to know that they were loved and I do forgive them,’ he told KABC.
‘They apologized to me, and we shared an embrace and a hug… I don’t hate them. These are two young men that need help,’ he added to NBC Los Angeles.
Medina also said that during their conversation at the police station, the boys told him they had attacked him for a TikTok video.
The single father said he sympathized with the parents of the teenagers and was thankful that they handed their sons over to police.
‘To turn their children in, and turn them over to the police, and then leave without their kids. That had to have been hard. And it tears at my heartstrings as a father, but I understand as well,’ he told KABC.
On Friday, a week after the assault, the parents of the teenagers turned them in to police and apologized to Medina. The boys are pictured getting arrested
The San Bernardino Police Department charged both teens with robbery. The 13-year-old who kicked Medina in the head was also charged with assault
According to the fundraiser for Medina, his doctor told him he needs to take time off work to fully recover from his injury.
Donations will help him make up for lost income while he heals, cover medical expenses and replace his stolen phone, the GoFundMe states.
It has raised around $1,300 as of Monday morning.
