Shailoobek Bazarbai Uulu, an immigrant from Kyrgyzstan seeking asylum, was brutally attacked and robbed by a mob of around 40 teenagers in Downtown Los Angeles (L.A.) Aug. 2.
Uulu, who has been living in California for one year, was planning on moving prior to the attack. As a result, he kept all of his belongings in his car with him.
Uulu was in his car that day, on the intersection between Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street, when he attempted to drive by the group, but stopped for a red light. One of the teenagers threw a water bottle at his car, which he got out of to inspect after pulling over once he’d passed the intersection.
Upon leaving his vehicle, Uulu was surrounded by the mob and ran away while his car was plundered and vandalized. In an attempt to prevent further damage to his car, which he had purchased only 6 months prior, and belongings, he returned only to be attacked himself. He was brutally kicked and punched while several of the mob’s members recorded him. The mass swarmed around Uulu and his car, and video evidence shows someone jumping on his car and grabbing everything he owned while his trashed possessions lay scattered on the street.
The disturbing attack ended only when Janeth Garcia got out of her own car to pull Uulu from the teenagers. She covered him as well as she could and held off the angry mob until they were safe. In a later interview, Uulu described how Garcia saved his life, and how he hadn’t realized how dangerous the situation and the streets in general were.
In the aftermath of the brutal attack, Uulu suffered from many injuries, the prominent of which included a broken leg and extreme bruising. Alone in California with his family still in Kyrgyzstan, Uulu started a GoFundMe page in order to pay for his medical bills. Amongst his stolen items were his wallet, passport, and papers needed for his asylum case. A few days after the assault, his credit card was used, but no arrests have been made since.
A similar mob of 50 masked teenagers ransacked a 7- Eleven about a week later, with similar damage done to the store as done to Uulu and his vehicle.
This event is one among many cases of violence that has been steadily increasing in California, leading many to worry for their safety.
