MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami Beach Police are hoping to find the people behind the brutal beating of a man in the heart of South Beach, Saturday night.
The victim was identified as 19-year-old David Hutchetson of New York.
Video of the beating shows a group of men chasing down Hutchetson, apparently around Ninth Street and Ocean Drive.
According to investigators, the victim was drunk and uncooperative when they asked him for information.
The attackers are seen catching their victim on the packed street. Fists and feet flailing, they are then seen pummeling him repeatedly, pulling him off the sidewalk and into traffic.
The violent footage stunned passers-by along Ocean Drive who saw it for the first time, Sunday. “Are they jumping him? Oh, my gosh,” said one woman.
The video left visitor Davida Walker dumbfounded. “Were all these men adults, because you are all jumping on just one person,” she said. “What did he do to deserve it? It’s not fair.”
“Stuff like that shouldn’t happen,” said one man after watching the footage.
Miami resident Humberto Ruiz said incidents like this brawl give South Florida a bad name. “All over the world, people want to come here, and then you see stuff like that, and it’s a shame,” he said.
By the time it was over, the victim was seen lying motionless on the ground in the middle of the street as onlookers rushed in to render aid.
Tourist Darryn Melerine said he understands why witnesses may hesitate before intervening. “Innocent bystanders don’t wanna get involved in an altercation like that because they may find themselves injured, and these days you just never know,” he said. “It could have escalated to even more than just a physical altercation.”
Another witness captured cellphone video as an ambulance and Miami Beach responded to the scene.
South Beach visitors on Sunday night said they want to know what is being done to track the people seen beating down the victim. “I wanna know if that person is OK. Then, if they are OK, the police need to find out all the people who jumped him, because that’s not OK,” said Walker.
Police said Hutchetson was taken to the hospital with a cut on his arm.
A spokesperson for Miami Beach Police told 7News he wasn’t aware of any fight that had taken place on Ocean Drive on Saturday, but they will be looking into it.
Detectives said they are looking for witnesses of the attack to come forward with what they know.
If you have any information on this beating, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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