A startling incident, recorded on camera, shows a man being attacked by a group of bicyclists in the heart of Los Angeles. 

The incident took place on Hill Street in the city's bustling downtown area on May 18, leaving the victim bruised and battered, the Daily Mail reported.  

Details of the Attack

The chilling video, captured from a nearby building, shows the victim being knocked down, kicked, and stomped on by four young men who, according to eyewitnesses, had been weaving through traffic on their bicycles. The victim, driving a white pickup truck, was assaulted when he exited his vehicle.  

The nature of the altercation remains unclear. One bystander suggested the driver honked at the bicyclists due to their erratic movement in traffic.

Another witness claimed the man in the white truck struck one of the cyclists, prompting the group to cut him off and lure him out of the vehicle.

The assault occurred just past 4:00 p.m. near the intersection of Hill Street and 6th Street in Los Angeles's jewelry district, as reported by the police. The ferocity of the attack was such that the driver's windows were smashed with a bike handle, as seen in the recorded video.

Witness Accounts

The bystander who recorded the assault, identified as Gary, was on the 13th floor of a nearby building when he heard the commotion below. He described the scene as "horrible," recounting how he saw a group of six to seven youths on bicycles attacking a white pickup truck.

In the disturbing video, the unidentified man who was attacked is seen falling to the ground as the four young attackers kick and shove him amidst the screams.

Gary revealed that nearby bystanders came to the man's rescue, breaking up the fight after several minutes of the loud and physical altercation. The driver eventually left the scene, seizing a moment of respite to jump back in his truck and escape the mob. 

Post-Incident Events

Following the driver's departure, witnesses stated that the group continued their reckless behavior, swerving in and out of traffic on their bikes. Additional footage of the incident showed several more people joining the group for their disruptive joyride, blocking traffic on both sides of the street.

The exact motive for the brutal beating is still under investigation. However, Gary believes that the victim may have inadvertently struck one of the bicyclists and attempted to drive away, only to be stuck in traffic, allowing the group to catch up and launch their attack.

Another jeweler in the area, Roman Kim, corroborated Gary's account, adding that the bicyclists had been partaking in dangerous activities in the street. Kim shared that the white pickup driver had honked at them after being cut off, as reported by ABC 7.

Road Rage Incidents on the Rise

According to Los Angeles Police Department data, road rage incidents have surged significantly, with a 30% increase from 2018 and 2019 to 2022.

Roman Kim said about the incident, "You feel for the guy, but stuff like this is happening so much around here lately, you kind of start to get desensitized a little bit." 

However, Gary expressed his disappointment, stating, "It's horrible that people are acting the way they are... They made the block look bad; it made the city look bad... Let's hope maybe people can try to be a little more peaceful around here so we can do better business."

Police Response

The LAPD confirmed their awareness of the incident to KTLA on Friday. They reported having received calls regarding up to 10 males on bicycles, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old. However, the group had already dispersed by the time they arrived at the scene.

On Saturday, the LAPD's Central Division issued a statement acknowledging the circulating video but stated that no official crime report had been made.