Editor: This story by a fellow OBcean was sent to us unsolicited. We decided to publish as a “reader’s rant” despite our inability to confirm its veracity.
In an Unprovoked Attack 2 People Wearing Masks Beat Me on Valentine’s Day as a 3rd Filmed it – Apparently Playing the “Knock Down Game”
By Anonymous Fourth Generation Resident of OB
I was brutally beaten by two individuals on Valentine’s Day 2014, returning home from a friend’s home near Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach.
I had walked down Cable Street to the seawall and made my way up the stairs at the foot of Pescadero Avenue. Walking up the street I was confronted by two individuals in blue jeans and white hoodies, in front of 4870 Pescadero Avenue. Then these two individuals, without saying a word, began to beat my face for no reason.
I believe there was a third person off in the distance filming the two beat me. This attack was unprovoked and they never said a word.
I remember a gold plastic party mask on the individual who first hit me. Possibly the other individual had a silver plastic party mask on. The gold masked individual was the first to sucker punch me in the face. I cannot remember if the other had a mask or not after the first hit by the masked individual. It occurred near multiple lights apparently to enhance the ability to film it.
Apparently the two individuals were playing the “Knock Down Game” and wanted their senseless and vicious attack to be broadcast on YouTube to gain media exposure.
I defended myself and ended up on the ground. I got back to my feet and screamed at them:
“Why would you beat a random person who has done nothing to you! You are cowards for wearing masks while you beat me!”
I must have broken one of their noses in my defense and they ran off laughing. This is not funny nor material that others should watch on YouTube.
I seek not vengeance but urge a heightened sense of awareness. Beware of the “Knock Down Game” and the collapse of our civil society. I am a fourth generation OBecian appalled at what has occurred in my community. I am a member of the Ocean Beach Main street Association and work in the local area.
I filed a police report but was told that because they were wearing masks that it would not be possible to identify and bring this crime to justice.
Nothing can be done except to file the report in the hopes that if this continues to occur as a serial crime that this occurrence can be one more piece of evidence used to establish this criminal pattern.
I believe that the pen is mightier than the sword and my hope is that these words may be able to be published so that others do not share my fate of being that random individual in the wrong place at the wrong time.
People of our beach communities should not tolerate the occurrence of this “Knock Down Game” or the individuals who take part in it.
This random act of violence has shattered my sense of security and has affirmed my belief that this is a time of moral decay where individuals seek random violence in order to gain fame as masked individuals in the realm of digital media.
Please do not encourage this behavior by viewing this “Knock Down Game” on YouTube and providing further incentives for media fame. In essence, Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” is alive and well and cowardly individuals have sought out media fame in YouTube to promote this ultra-violence. Remember that if it happened to me, it could happen to you.
Fourth Generation OB Resident
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I am SO sickened by this awful incident that happened to you. I praise you for contacting the police, what a shame there is not more they can do.
I write for the San Diego Reader. I urge you to write a story, similar to the one here and you can possibly reach even more people to warn them of this tragedy. If you would like me to facilitate this for you, please let me know. At the very least, you can go on their web site, to their Neighborhood News Section and there is a place to email them on there and post the story.
I’m also going to bring this up at the OB Merchant Crime Watch meeting tomorrow morning. Not sure what can be done, but we’ll see. Since you are a member of the OBMA, it’s a good possibility that they may already know about this. I’m betting on it.
I hope you don’t mind me posting this on the OB Crime Watch page and on the Social OB pages on Facebook. A lot of people read these posts and it might help someone avoid or protect themselves from this senseless violence in the future.
Healing vibes coming your way…….
On Sunday, when the 35 Bus does not travel south of Newport Ave., my foreign language students have to walk to and from the house to the bus stop. The last bus into OB is at 9:45pm, and several times my students have told me that they were followed; taunted; and blocked as they walk the mile to the house. The above report is alarming for many reasons, and added to the report should be the factor of extremely poor lighting along the way. Not only is it hard to identify someone with a mask on, it is equally as hard to identify someone when the lighting is so poor. A student said to me just this morning, “I thought this was a safe place.” Funny, I thought so too.
This is just sad…
If you’d like someone to escort your students safely on Sundays I’d be happy to do so.
I have lived here for many years and have no worries about taking a stroll at night.
I don’t like hearing stories like this and can assure you your students won’t even be looked at in my presence.
Let me know….
I offered free womens self defense over a year ago when women were being attacked. I will be glad to hold self defense classes for anyone that feels the need. it is more about awareness than fighting …. but I will cover all aspects. this is not tolerable in our community. please call or email if interested. lets empower ourselves!
Phillip Gordon
Certified as a DKS muay Thai instructor and ITR self defense
VAULT COMBAT ACADEMY
619 665 7677
http://www.vaultmuaythai.com
phillip@vaultmuaythai.com
Scan You Tube for the recording of the altercation. Perhaps you can track the perps down by tracing back to the original poster of the recording, if it’s posted. The jerks may actually read the OBRag, & then they may wait a while before they post. Do you have any contacts at the PLHS? Perhaps the punks were students, & perhaps they are stupid & may try to edit the recording using school equipment. Post a reward; someone somewhere may need some cash & may have large ears & a small mouth.
And for you, my friend, it may be time for some self defense classes. Go see Mark Colangelo at 4993 Niagra, Go Jiu Bujitsu. A nice hard kick to the kneecap will stop most jerks; and then you can ID them at ER.
Bummer dude, I’m right there w/ you.
I hear ya Mark…. jerks will think twice when they encounter someone that knows how to defend themselves. A very quick life lesson!!!
Phillip, I am not Mark.
I am the un-aged soul partner of Margaret Sanger.
Familiarize yourself with my friends Mr Glock & Mr Colt, your response will blow them away !
The best advice yet.
Don’t lose heart OBetians. This is our community. We will not be bullied. The “Knock Down Game” is is on YouTube as other titles such as “Knock Down the Jew” in New York. This is another feeble attempt for recognition by young people lacking creativity with a desire for attention. Let us demonstrate that we are a community that will not give up our sense of peace and wellbeing. Let us stick together as the community that we are and watch out for each other and ourselves. This is our OB!
Thanks for posting this article, and for getting the word out. If you see something happening, or if something is happening to you, SPEAK UP, and do WHATEVER you can. The louder you are, the more people will come and help – this is OB folks, and we take care of each other… don’t be afraid to ask for it when you need it, even if it’s late. If you’re within ear-shot of me, I’ll come runnin’, and so will others – it’s happened before, it’ll happen again.
Everybody should know how to defend themselves and know our weapon laws so you can protect yourself and others. If you don’t, time to read up – you might not need it to save yourself, but you might need it to save someone else. It’s up to all of us.
I would like to know:
At what time this happened?
In the Knock Out Game, you do not know is coming. Was it like that, or where just thugs with masks?
What International Language school is in OB?
After your students told you about, did you reported to the police, and what was the answer from them if any?
free self defense lessons here….