A teenage boy is in intensive care after being assaulted by four people while eating at a fast food restaurant in Watts.
Jason Rios, who just turned 15 years old a few days ago, is in intensive care following a disturbing assault at The Habit Burger Grill restaurant, his family announced. According to his loved ones, the boy was at a restaurant with his friends around 6pm on Tuesday when he was violently attacked by a group of four.
“I literally have no words. I looked at him and couldn't think of anything,” said Naeli Rios, the victim's sister.
After the attack, the boy asked his mother for help, and when his mother arrived, he was alone and bleeding on the ground. When he was taken to hospital, doctors told Jason's family that he had been beaten so badly that his brain was bleeding.
“At that point, they said if we didn't have surgery, he was going to die at this very moment,” Nayeri said. “And in that moment, our hearts just dropped at that point.”
The boy underwent an eight-hour operation. He said his family will have a long road to recovery.
“He is currently intubated,” Nayeri said. “He's been sedated multiple times. He has some swelling on his face. We don't know if he has any motor skills. We don't know if he'll remember us or if he'll remember us.” I don't know if I remember myself.”
The boy's family said he did not know the people who assaulted him. No arrests have been announced in connection with the attack.