A longtime valet at West Hollywood's Barney's Beanery was critically injured over the weekend when an unknown attacker assaulted him, the attack, described as random and vicious by the restaurant, took place Saturday night in the parking lot of the establishment, as detailed in a KTLA report.
The victim, identified as Frankie Zarazua who has served patrons at the establishment's parking for over 30 years, sustained multiple injuries to his head, neck, and body; Zarazua remains in the intensive care unit at a local hospital following the assault, this according to statements from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and an Instagram post by Barney's Beanery, where they expressed Zarazua's character as "kind, funny, and welcoming to everyone he encounters".
AJ Sacher, director of operations at Barney's Beanery, recalled the incident as "attempted murder" and not merely an assault when reflecting on Zarazua's, known to his colleagues as Frank, confrontation with the shirtless perpetrator; Sacher's sentiments were echoed during an ABC7 interview where he expressed profound dismay and fury over the incident.
Zarazua's son, Chris, provided a harrowing account of the attack to ABC7, stating his father was defenseless and called the assailant "a monster" and Zarazua, a 51-year-old, renowned among the restaurant's clientele for his affability and passion for fancy cars, is currently at the heart of a crowdfunding effort via a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical and associated bills, as mentioned on the restaurant’s social media and confirmed by his family.
Local authorities continue to investigate the series of attacks hoping to apprehend the aggressive suspect responsible for injuring Zarazua and others out on the street Sunday night; Sacher and Zarazua's family and friends yearn for justice, Chris Zarazua expressed his hope that the wave of support will show his father "how much love he gets from everybody, and how much he is loved" while the community remains concerned, that another victim could fall prey to the assailant should he remain unfound.
