Source : Perth Now news
Two teenagers have been charged after a 66-year-old security guard was allegedly repeatedly punched in the head at a Gold Coast shopping centre.
Queensland Police allege the security guard approached a group of young people at Westfield Coomera about 6.40pm on Tuesday and asked them to move along.
Police allege an argument followed before two males assaulted the man, punching him several times in the head.
The guard then allegedly fell to the ground and hit his head on the concrete.
He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition and remained in hospital on Wednesday.
Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said the man suffered a concussion and a laceration to his head.
“We believe he sustained the head injury from falling on the ground, but also from the punches that he received,” Inspector Mooney said.
“Especially a man of that age, a 66-year-old, falling down, hitting his head on the concrete.”
Police allege the group, believed to include males and females aged between 14 and 18, fled the shopping centre after the incident.
Investigators believe they ran towards Coomera train station and may have used public transport to leave the area.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged on Wednesday with one count of serious assault of a person over 60.
He was due to appear at Southport Childrens Court on 23 September.
The boy was also charged with one count of serious assault of a person over 60 and is due to appear in Southport Children’s Court on Thursday.
Inspector Mooney said investigators had identified some members of the group but had not yet spoken to all of them.
“We’ve identified a couple of the people in the group, but we haven’t fully spoken to them or got their full details at this point in time,” he said.
Inspector Mooney described the alleged assault as a serious incident.
“This is a serious incident that has left a 66-year-old man in hospital and our thoughts are with him and his family,” he said.
“We treat all acts of violence extremely seriously.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe while they’re going about their daily activities, including those who are simply doing their jobs.”
Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with relevant vision of the incident to come forward.
