Attempted murder with hammer in El Centro

Suspect fled the scene but later found.- News 11's Vanessa Gongora reports.

EL CENTRO, Calif - (KYMA, KECY) A homeless man was attacked Tuesday night by getting hit on the head three times with a hammer by another homeless man.

A 19 year old hispanic male approached another hispanic male approximately 27 years old outside of the 7-Eleven on Imperial Ave while he was sleeping and started to hit him on the head with the weapon.

The victim woke up and tried to defend himself.

The El Centro Police and Medical responded and attended to the victim's injuries but he declined to go to the hospital.

There were two witnesses that have not yet been identified and also surveillance footage of the crime.

The suspect had gotten away but later was found. Sgt. Steve Fisher said officers were given descriptions of the suspect and one officer recognized him while attending to a different incident.

"They found him last night. They actually contacted him at the hospital for something unrelated. He was taken into custody," Sgt. Fisher said.

The El Centro Police Department did not find the hammer used on victim.

Fisher said the next steps are to have the report approved and forwarded to the District Attorney's office for prosecution for attempted murder or assault with a deadly weapon.

One Imperial Valley resident, Marc Gray, who works nearby this 7-Eleven says it's scary because he goes there almost every day.

"My family goes there so yeah it's a little worrisome that people just don't care about human life, so quick to just take violence. It's not good," Gray said.  

Gray hopes the homeless population has access to mental health resources so they don't hurt innocent people.

"You don't know the safety factor. So stranger danger right?" Gray asked.

Gray says he just went to this 7-Eleven two days ago and is lucky he didn't go last night.