Columbia man brutally beaten in wolfpack style attack

A 61-year-old Columbia man was attacked and brutally beaten by a group of men on the 600 block of Walnut Street early Sunday morning. According to the victim [name withheld], the incident began when he was awakened at about 3 a.m. by a loud and disruptive group of about eight young men on the sidewalk near his home. He approached them and asked them to be quiet so that he could sleep. A few of them became defiant and told him that he needed to "respect" them. As he attempted to reason with them, they surrounded him and he was "sucker punched" before being attacked by others and knocked to the ground. The group continued to punch and kick him as he was lying on the sidewalk. The resident was able to crawl a few feet to his front steps where his wife came to his aid. (He later told Columbia Spy that he thought he was going to be shot in the back when he was on the ground.) He used the word "wolves" to describe the attackers. His wife said "blood was everywhere."

A short time later, one of the group, who realized he had dropped his phone during the attack, came to the man's home asking for its return. His wife told him that she had turned it over to the police. After looking at photos on the phone, she recognized some of the men who may have participated in the attack.

The resident sustained potentially life-threatening injuries in the attack, including  an enlarged spleen, a closed fracture of the right eye orbit, a maxillary sinus fracture, concussion, and contusions. Some of the contusions were suffered while he was crawling on the sidewalk. His glasses were also broken during the attack. He was transported to LGH via ambulance. Full assessment of injuries is ongoing. Due to facial injuries, he may require surgery.

Police are investigating.

Anyone with further information should call the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735.