Two masked men attacked a longtime Los Angeles business owner in broad daylight, striking him with a handgun and stealing his watch during a brazen robbery in the city’s Fashion District.
Dramatic surveillance footage shows the suspects, both dressed in black, jumping from the passenger side of a black sedan before rushing Israeli business owner Ronan Vered as he stood in the doorway of his store on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at about 3:15 p.m.
The frightening attack was recorded by the store’s security cameras and later shared online by Israeli Week News.
In the video, the two men appear to hold a gun to Vered’s head. One then begins beating him to the ground while customers remain inside the store.
The attackers take turns pulling and assaulting the businessman before one delivers a violent pistol-whipping blow to his head. Blood is visible on the ground after the assault.
Vered attempts to get away, but one suspect allegedly tears the watch from his wrist. The pair then escape in the waiting vehicle.
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Los Angeles Police Department Public Information Officer Tony Im confirmed that officers responded to a reported robbery in the 1100 block of East 12th Street that afternoon.
Police received the call shortly after 3 p.m. The victim, described as being in his 50s, reported that his watch had been stolen. Authorities did not release the value of the timepiece, although the outlet reported that it was a Rolex worth approximately $50,000.
Im said police issued a crime bulletin for two Black male suspects wearing black who were traveling in a black sedan. No additional details were immediately available, and the investigation remains active.
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt posted the disturbing footage on social media Thursday, along with a blunt warning to Angelenos.
“My buddy’s neighbor just got robbed and pistol-whipped in broad daylight in downtown LA. Look at how unbothered these animals are. No rush. No fear of getting arrested,” Pratt wrote on X.
“Good luck, LA! Ain’t nobody coming to help you.”
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the attack or identified the suspects.
