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Background: Ring camera footage appearing to show a group of people converge on the victim before attacking him (WPVI/YouTube). Inset: German Corona (WPVI/YouTube).
After wrapping up a long and exhausting workday, German Corona, 46, faced a harrowing ordeal that has left him with physical and emotional scars. As he made his way home on a familiar route one Friday night, a routine he had followed for nearly a decade, an unsettling presence trailed him. A group of youths, later described as “juvenile males” by authorities, closed in on Corona before launching a brutal attack and robbing him, as captured on video surveillance.
The incident unfolded around 10:40 p.m. as Corona departed from his workplace on Oregon Avenue in Philadelphia, a location where he juggled two jobs and often clocked 13-hour shifts. As he crossed Shunk Street, an area in the city’s southern region, the assailants converged from various directions. Footage later revealed one of the individuals pointing, seemingly signaling the others to begin their assault.
The vicious attack left Corona with significant injuries, including a broken nose and three staples in his head. Sharing his ordeal with Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate WPVI, he recounted the terrifying moments and the aftermath that has upended his sense of security.
Despite the clear evidence captured on video, the Philadelphia Police Department has yet to make any arrests related to this disturbing case. The community remains on edge as law enforcement continues to investigate, urging anyone with information to come forward. This incident highlights the growing concern for safety in neighborhoods and the urgent need for measures to protect residents as they go about their daily lives.
As Corona crossed Shunk Street in the southern part of the city, four “juvenile males” followed him, police said. Video obtained by the local outlet shows the minors converging on the man from different directions, with one of them pointing before they attack.
“They don”t say anything,” Corona noted, adding that he believed he was hit with an object on the back of his head. “They knocked me out for like one minute. When I woke up, I saw a lot of blood on the floor.”
He came to and realized they were still hitting him and demanding money. According to Corona, he gave them his wallet with hundreds of dollars in it. Nearby residents apparently started to make noise, and the minors ran away.
“The suspects followed the victim and brutally attacked him … beating him until he lost consciousness,” police added. “The suspects demanded money, fleeing the scene with the victim’s wallet and approximately $200 in cash.”
Two of them ran north and a third ran south, officers added. Corona was brought to an area hospital, where he was treated.
The Philadelphia Police Department is urging anyone with information about the attack to contact its South Detective Division at (215) 686-3013 or [email protected].
Corona said the attack has left him scared.
“I walk on the street for like 10 years every night. Every night. Sometimes I come out from work at like 12 o’clock. Never worried, nothing. It’s always nice and quiet,” he told WPVI. “I don’t want it to happen again to anybody else.”