TONAWANDA, N.Y. — Calling it an "unprovoked and despicable act," City of Tonawanda Police continue to investigate an attack on a Town of Tonawanda man who suffers from Huntington's disease.
The assault took place just before 2 a.m. Sunday at the corner of Grove Street and Grove Place. The 59-year-old victim, identified only as Michael by his daughter, suffered a broken jaw, a concussion and a brain bleed. He's currently being treated in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at the Erie County Medical Center.
Although a resident of the Town of Tonawanda, police spokesperson Captain Fredric Foels says many of the department's officers know the victim from his frequent walks to Gateway Park in the city.
Avery Hunter, 24, of Buffalo, is charged with felony assault. Captain Foels says when officers arrived on the scene Sunday, Hunter was still standing over the victim who laid unconscious on the sidewalk.
"Our assailant was on a bicycle and for some reason got off his bicycle and went up to him (the victim) and then before you know it, punched him so hard he knocked him down on the sidewalk," Foels said.
Hunter is due back in court Tuesday afternoon.
The victim's daughter, Michelle, told 2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing that her father was diagnosed with Huntington's disease ten years ago. She said he loves to go walking.
"He'd rather just go for a walk and see scenery, that is his thing," Michelle said. "He loves to walk anywhere and see everything."
She had choice words for the man who hurt her dad, "He's a piece of !@#$. The guy that did it, he deserves what's coming to him what he did was unnecessary, there's no words for what he did."