Janitor assaulted by gang members for wearing the color blue
FRESNO, Calif. -- Police in Madera, California say a janitor was assaulted by gang members for wearing the color blue.
The beating happened at a Madera Save Mart store late Saturday night.
Police said the victim works at Mister Clean Maintenance Systems, which does janitorial work for Save Mart.
Surveillance video captured a glimpse of the two male suspects, but the janitor was attacked off camera.
Madera police said the victim is in his 20s with absolutely no gang ties. He just happened to be wearing the wrong color at the wrong time.
"He was wearing a blue shirt which is the color of his company and they came across them -- they're northerners so they claim the color red," Detective Jason Gutknecht with the Madera Police Department said.
The two gang members caught on surveillance are accused of taunting, hitting and smashing a wine bottle over the victims head.
The assault has gained national attention, and makes people like Samuel Peterson scared to live in Madera.
"I used to wear red all the time like red shirts and red shorts but definitely not anymore. Not in Madera," Peterson said.
Detectives have said it was a random and brutal crime and they're following up on several leads in hopes of finding the suspects.
Meanwhile, the victim is recovering from his head injuries and in fear the suspects will return.
"He's a little worried that it's going to happen again because they know where he works," Detective Jason Gutknecht explained.
Police said when arrested the suspects are facing multiple felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon and gang enhancements and possibly conspiracy to commit a crime.
