A single father and chef was viciously attacked while relaxing in a hot tub by two 13-year-old boys who said they committed the crime for a TikTok video.
Gregory Medina was having a well-earned soak in his San Bernardino, California, apartment complex's hot tub on the evening of August 14 after a long day of feeding the homeless as a chef at the nonprofit Lutheran Social Services.
As he sat in the tub with his AirPods in, listening to a class lecture because he had recently returned to school, two teenagers approached from behind.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex captured one of the 13-year-old suspects kicking Medina in the back of the head and the other stooping over to snatch the single father's phone before the two darted off.
The unprovoked assault jolted Medina forward, knocking off his glasses and AirPods. He turned to look at his assailants before noticing they had stolen his phone, then tried to chase them but was unable to catch up.
Medina contacted police and tracked his phone to a neighboring apartment complex, but authorities were unable to pinpoint exactly which unit the device was located in. The teenagers later admitted to discarding the evidence by ditching the phone, KABC reports.
The chef went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with a concussion. As a single father and the sole provider for a 12-year-old girl, he was unable to take time off work despite suffering from severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, neck pain and shoulder pain, according to a GoFundMe organized by his sister.
On Friday, a week after the teenagers committed the assault, their parents turned them in to police. The parents also gave Medina a call and apologized, he told KABC.
Gregory Medina, a single father and chef, suffered an unprovoked attack by two 13-year-olds who were filming for a TikTok video. He is pictured with his 12-year-old daughter
Medina visited the teenagers after they were arrested and said her forgave them. He is pictured with his daughter in 2020
Surveillance footage from Medina's apartment complex captured the suspects kicking him in the back of the head and stealing his phone. The single father suffered a concussion
'He was very apologetic and saying his son made a stupid mistake, but he understands that he did need to be held accountable,' Medina told the outlet while discussing a call he received from one of the teens' fathers.
Both of the 13-year-olds, who were not named by police, were arrested on felony robbery charges. The one who kicked Medina in the head is also facing an assault charge.
Medina went to the San Bernardino Police station to meet his alleged assailants and was remarkably gracious.
'I never once raised my voice or yelled at them or belittled them. I wanted them to know that they were loved and I do forgive them,' he told KABC.
'They apologized to me, and we shared an embrace and a hug... I don’t hate them. These are two young men that need help,' he added to NBC Los Angeles.
Medina also said that during their conversation at the police station, the boys told him they had attacked him for a TikTok video.
The single father said he sympathized with the parents of the teenagers and was thankful that they handed their sons over to police.
'To turn their children in, and turn them over to the police, and then leave without their kids. That had to have been hard. And it tears at my heartstrings as a father, but I understand as well,' he told KABC.
On Friday, a week after the assault, the parents of the teenagers turned them in to police and apologized to Medina. The boys are pictured getting arrested
The San Bernardino Police Department charged both teens with robbery. The 13-year-old who kicked Medina in the head was also charged with assault
According to the fundraiser for Medina, his doctor told him he needs to take time off work to fully recover from his injury.
Donations will help him make up for lost income while he heals, cover medical expenses and replace his stolen phone, the GoFundMe states.
It has raised around $1,300 as of Monday morning.
