University of Michigan student who was assaulted with beer bottle suffers from vision loss
The father of the 18-year-old University of Michigan student who was assaulted at a South Fifth Avenue bar says his son has suffered vision loss.
The victim was injured at about 12:20 a.m. Friday after a rival fraternity member hit him in the face with a beer bottle at The Fifth Quarter, Ann Arbor police said.
The 18-year-old victim, who had a gash on his face and cut on his arm, was taken by ambulance to the University of Michigan Hospital, police said.
The victim's father said his son has suffered from vision loss in his right eye, which may be permanent. He asked that his name be withheld so as not to identify his son.
"We're not sure if the doctors will be able to restore (his vision)," the victim's father said. "He's having his second surgery today."
He says his son is scared at the prospect of possibly losing his vision, but the family remains hopeful.
Detectives are investigating the assault, but no arrests have been made, police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said Friday.
According to police, the victim was at the bar when a rival fraternity member called him a homophobic slur. The victim informed the president of his fraternity, and another rival fraternity member hit him with the bottle and left the bar, police said.
Bar management told police no staff members witnessed the assault, Bush said.
The assailant was described as white, 18 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 150 pounds, police said. He was wearing a white shirt, police said.
The victim's father said the assault was "totally unprovoked," and he urged the assailant to come forward.
"Anything we can do to encourage this kid to come forward," he said. "I don't want to ruin his life, but he's got to take responsibility for his actions."
Anyone with information can call the police department's tip line at (734) 794-6939 or contact Detective Dave Monroe directly at (734) 794-6930, ext. 49308.
Comments
AK
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.
And here I thought this was common knowledge: Fakes (false/old IDs that look like the student) are commonplace. Last year there were plenty of police roundups at the popular student bars that resulted in multiple busts, several bars being fined, etc. It hasn't stopped the problem because underage drinking is a fairly major activity here. A certain subset of students come to school and expect to go out partying. As for taking responsability for his actions - you really haven't been exposed to these kids, have you. Taking responsability is not in their vocabulary. I would be surprised, ney shocked, if the beer bottle basher turns himself in.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.
"he's got to take responsibility for his actions." Unlikely, but his friends and frat brothers that were with him? What's their excuse?
Mark A.
Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/health/losing-sight-in-one-eye-cathy-koyanagi-had-881742.html
Killroy
Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 7:43 a.m.
Time to serve beer in baby bottle with big rubber nipples at our local watering holes?
4 Fingers
Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 6:26 a.m.
What are the odds that 18 year old hit him with a BEER bottle?? hmmm...where did he get that???
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 1:51 a.m.
Plain and simple. When he turns himself in which he will probably do,(I am sure word is out all over the place who did this)let a judge give him a few hard years in the klinker and make sure he has a permanent record. If he took someone's eye out he deserves suffering. Try to get a decent job with a record like this one. Life with a minimum wage job will be plenty of suffering!
RJA
Mon, Oct 18, 2010 : 11:56 p.m.
Why was an 18yr. old in the bar?
actionjackson
Mon, Oct 18, 2010 : 5:57 p.m.
Whatever happened to just a plain old "let's take this outside" then one or the other agrees or says "go ahead if I'm not there start without me" Don't they have video surveilance in these places?