A teenage boy was reportedly slashed with a piece of glass by an unidentified assailant while playing basketball in Petaluma, California, police said Wednesday. The Petaluma Police Department disclosed that a 17-year-old male victim called in the attack, which took place around 12:40 PM the day before, at a court on Fairgrounds Drive. The suspect, apparently a white male adult wearing an SF Giants cap, jumped a fence before striking with the makeshift weapon.
The juvenile managed to escape serious harm, avoiding the need for medical treatment following the unprovoked assault. The youth described his assailant as having long grey or black hair and sporting a green flannel shirt and blue jeans, according to the police statement. Patrols will be significantly increased in the vicinity to prevent similar incidents, and the authorities are calling on the community to step forward with any information that could help identify the attacker.
In a reflection of the severity of the situation, the Petaluma Police have taken to social media to amplify their hunt. "If anyone has any information that may assist with identifying the suspect or develop leads in the investigation, we encourage you to contact the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372," a statement on their Facebook page read.
Police officers who arrived at the scene carried out a thorough sweep for evidence that could lead to the assailant's capture. There's an ongoing investigation into the seemingly random act of violence, with no apparent motive provided by the victim, who claimed not to recognize his attacker.
