HOLMES BEACH, Fla. — The Holmes Beach Police Department is asking the public for information after an Anna Maria Island man was attacked Wednesday night.
Officers say, Evan Purcell, 40, was walking his dogs with his 10-year-old niece around 9 p.m. at Anna Maria Elementary School when he saw a group of teens drinking and possibly vandalizing the school.
That's when the police department says Purcell yelled to the group to "stop and move along." The teenagers instead became aggressive and approached Purcell, according to a press release.
"The victim was in fear for his safety and pulled out a pocketknife to scare off the group. Several of the males in the group attacked the victim knocking him to the ground," police wrote in a press release.
During the attack, officers say Purcell was possibly hit with a skateboard and punched and kicked in the head until he became unconscious. The group of teens then reportedly fled in a Kia Sportage.
"It was a brutal attack," said Chief William Tokajer.
"He was unconscious when the officers arrived and when he was taken off in the ambulance, he was still unconscious. When the officers got to the hospital to talk to him he was then conscious," Tokajer said.
"He has got serious injuries and most likely will need medical attention and surgeries, they are serious medical injuries," he added.
Purcell's family members say he was "nearly beaten to death" by the group and that his niece was able to run to a neighbor's house to call 911.
The 40-year-old was taken to Blake Hospital where he is said to be stable. WWSB reports he has multiple facial fractures.
"Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers," a family member wrote on Facebook.
"I cried immediately in fear to I was so in fear of how someone could do that to somebody," said Peyton Purcell, his 19-year-old niece. She said he was still struggling to speak when she visited him at the hospital.
"All he wanted to do was hold my hand. He can talk but it's very little and it's like 'Can I have some water please' or 'water' and other one-word things," said Peyton.
Police say they have identified "several" of those involved in the attack but no arrests have been made at this time.
The school is adding three more surveillance cameras and extra lighting around its perimeters and on the premises. They are also planning to add swing arms gates to their entrances to prevent beach parking on the property when it is not allowed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Fleischer at fleischerj@holmesbeach.org or 941-708-5800 ext. 270. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477.