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Inset: Daniel Lanks (KSAZ). Background: The area near 48th Street and Broadway Avenue Road in Phoenix, Ariz., where Daniel Lanks allegedly ripped out a stranger’s eye (Google Maps).
An Arizona man is facing felony aggravated assault charges for an “unprovoked” attack he allegedly unleashed on a stranger, with cops saying he grabbed an individual from behind and “completely removed” their eyeball from the eye socket after the victim walked by and asked the suspect, “How are you doing?”
“The victim stated that during this incident he was in fear for his life and safety, believing that Daniel could have killed him,” police allege in court documents obtained by local Fox affiliate KSAZ, which outline the charges against Daniel Lanks, 39, who is accused of carrying out the attack on Monday, April 14, near 48th Street and Broadway Road, the station reports.
“The attack was completely unprovoked, and he did not threaten Daniel, challenge him, and did not have any form of weapons to be perceived as a threat,” the documents say, according to KSAZ. Lanks allegedly pummeled the victim with punches to his face after removing his eyeball, causing a fractured jaw.
“The victim stated this loss of the use of his right eye and fractured jaw will forever impact his quality of life and is unsure if he will be able to work again or perform many basic life functions,” the charging documents say.
Lanks was allegedly near a shop at the intersection of Broadway and 48th Street when the victim crossed his path early Monday at around 1 a.m., KSAZ and AZFamily report.
“How are you doing?” the victim allegedly asked him.
Police say Lanks responded by telling the man he would “whoop his a—” as the individual walked away from him.
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“Post Miranda, Daniel told detectives to shut the f— up and that he did not understand his rights,” per the court documents.
Lanks was booked on felony aggravated assault charges. He had been released from custody on his own recognizance just one week prior to the alleged attack for a separate arrest and charge of aggravated assault and organized retail theft for a prior incident that allegedly occurred in March, KSAZ reports.
Lanks is currently being held on a $500,000 for the April 14 attack.
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