Police are looking for a suspect who they say attacked and beat a fellow customer at a Fort Lauderdale gas station.
The incident happened the evening of February 19 at the Shell Station at 1144 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale Police spokesman Travis Mandell said Thursday.
According to Mandell, the victim was waiting in line inside the station when the suspect, who was standing in front of him, became "agitated."
Unprovoked, the suspect told the victim to "back up six inches" and when the victim complied, the suspect started threatening him and called him a "limey [expletive] Australian," Mandell said.
The confused victim told the man he was American, and that's when the suspect started to attack, hitting the victim several times with his fists and knees, Mandell said.
The suspect pummeled the victim, who refused to fight back, into a corner of the store, before he casually strolled out and left the scene in a grey pickup truck, Mandell said.
"They all stood there, especially the clerk. The clerk stated at one point, 'I don't want to get involved,'" said the victim, who did not want to be identified.
The victim suffered a chipped tooth as well as several abrasions and bruises. The attack was caught on the store's surveillance system.
"I was totally in shock. I was totally surprised," the victim said.
The suspect is described as a white male, around 30 years old, 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with info is asked to call Fort Lauderdale Police at 954-828-5546.
