Bicyclist Savagely Beaten In El Monte

EL MONTE (CNS/FOX 11) - Police released surveillance camera footage Wednesday of a group of men sought for chasing down and severely beating and stabbing a 36-year-old bicyclist in El Monte last week.

"The bicyclist sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance for treatment," said El Monte police Sgt. Richard Luna.

The bicyclist was westbound on Elliott Avenue near Tyler Avenue about 12:15 a.m. April 6 when a four-door Honda Civic passed by and a passenger in the car yelled at him, Luna said.

The Honda's driver then made a U-turn and followed the bicyclist, eventually pulling alongside and coming to a stop. At least three men got of the car and confronted the victim, the sergeant said.

The man tried to run away, but his assailants caught with him at the southwest corner of Elliott and Continental avenues, where he was punched, kicked and stabbed several times, Luna said.

The Honda then pulled up, the suspects jumped in, and the driver sped off southbound on Continental Avenue, Luna said.

Police withheld the identity of the victim, a resident of South El Monte who has no gang affiliation, according to Luna.

The Honda was a 2013 to 2014 model, possibly gray or black in color. The driver was described as a 30- to 35-year-old, 5-foot-9-inch Latino man with a heavy build, short dark hair and a mustache, Luna said.

The remaining four suspects were between the ages of 20 and 25. One wore a dark colored T-shirt with white print on the back, while another was clad in a dark-hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. A third suspect wore a medium-colored, hooded sweatshirt and light-colored shorts, and the fourth suspect wore a light-colored, hooded sweatshirt and light-colored shorts.

Anyone with information regarding the attack was asked to call the El Monte Police Department's watch commander at (626) 580-2109.