Suspect accused of unprovoked assault on elderly man in Phoenix

PHOENIX – An elderly man was seriously injured in what appears to have been a random attack in Phoenix on Monday night, and a suspect was taken into custody, according to authorities.

Officers responding to an assault call on Van Buren Street west of 16th Street found the 70-year-old victim unconscious with obvious head injuries, police said Tuesday.

Police said they located 35-year-old Oscar Cipriano Rodriguez nearby and developed probable cause to arrest him.

Detectives determined that the victim, who was hospitalized in critical condition, did not know his attacker.

Police said the attack, which occurred around 5:30 p.m., was unprovoked.

Rodriguez was booked into Maricopa County Jail on one count of aggravated assault.

No other details were made available.

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