Elderly man cleaning a Chicago sidewalk is sucker punched in horrific unprovoked attack

This is the horrific moment an elderly man cleaning a Chicago sidewalk was sucker punched and knocked to the ground amid an uptick in violent crime in the city.  

In footage released by police Sunday the thug attacks his victim before fleeing the scene. The incident is said to have taken place in the middle of the afternoon on July 23. 

The national spotlight has been on Chicago for weeks after a surge in gun violence that resulted in more homicides in July than any month in decades. 

Police tweeted the clip, writing: ‘Help Detectives identify the subject seen in this video where a Battery of Senior Citizen occurred on the 100 block of West Jackson Blvd on July 23 approx. 2:50PM.’  

The incident is said to have taken place in the middle of the afternoon on July 23 There does not appear to have been any words exchanged between the two men

The clip begins with the cleaner making his way across the sidewalk with his broom. A passing man, who is described as wearing a white tank top, blue shorts and blue shoes, then punches him.

There does not appear to have been any words exchanged between the two men.

Police have not released any information on the condition of the victim following the attack or his identity.   

Police have not released any information on the condition of the victim

Police tweeted: ‘Help Detectives identify the subject seen in this video where a Battery of Senior Citizen occurred on the 100 block of West Jackson Blvd on July 23 approx. 2:50PM’

Violent crime has risen in many US cities this year. President Donald Trump recently announced he was sending federal agents to some of them, including Chicago, as part of what he calls Operation Legend to help local authorities fight such crime. 

Homicides and shootings have surged in Chicago during the first seven months of the year. The 440 homicides and 2,240 people shot by the end of this July compares to 290 homicides and 1,480 shootings in Chicago in the same period last year.

July was especially violent; the city recorded 105 homicides and 584 shootings.   

The president has used violent spikes in Democratic-led cities such as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia to justify claims that recent reforms and cuts to police budgets have hampered officers and allowed criminals to run amok. 

Broken windows are seen at a Macy’s following a night of civil unrest & looting in downtown Chicago following the shooting of an Englewood man on August 10

The national spotlight has been on Chicago for weeks after a surge in gun violence that resulted in more homicides in July than any month in decades. Chicago police officers detain a man suspected of carrying a gun

Hundreds of people last week descended on downtown Chicago early Monday following a police shooting on the city’s South Side. 

And Chicago’s police superintendent was on Monday was forced to defend his officers’ actions during weekend clashes with protesters. 

Superintendent David Brown said cops acted professionally in the face of a ‘concerted effort’ by those in the crowd trying to provoke a violent confrontation with them.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot praised the department’s response to Saturday evening’s protest that turned into a violent clash between demonstrators and police officers, saying officers quelled the violence quickly to protect peaceful protesters.

Brown said that between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Sunday, 51 people were shot, including five fatally, in 38 shooting incidents. He said four juveniles were shot but none of them were killed. 

Clothing and other items litter the ground at Nordstrom after a night of unrest & looting in downtown Chicago on August 10. President Donald Trump recently announced he was sending federal agents to some of them, including Chicago, as part of what he calls Operation Legend to help local authorities fight such crime

Police officers inspect a damaged Best Buy store after parts of the city had widespread looting and vandalism, on August 10