Victim found 2 days after home invasion, beating in Juniata Park

JUNIATA PARK (WPVI) -- The victim of a home invasion is hospitalized after being found two days after the incident took place in Juniata Park.

"He's such a good guy," said his friend Chris Tanon. "He never disrespects people, he sticks to himself."

The victim is a mechanic who fixes small engines and machines from his shop in the garage of his home in the 4200 block of of Neilson Street.

When he works, he often keeps his garage door open.

"Most of the time working, he just has it open," said neighbor Rafael Yanez. "He has people come in, drop off lawnmowers, pick them up. That's what he does all day."

Police say the victim was in the garage at 11 p.m. Friday when two men armed with a gun and wearing masks and gloves entered through the open garage door.

"There's nothing across the street, it's a park," said Yanez. "So you can't see if they come in... and boom, they're in."

Police say the men grabbed the victim, dragged him to a second floor rear bedroom, tied him up with electrical tape, and stuffed a rag into his mouth.

Police say the suspects pistol-whipped the victim and left after 15 minutes.

When the victim did not turn up for a family function on Sunday, his brother grew concerned. He climbed up to the second floor, found his injured brother, and took him to the hospital.

Police found a bloody air gun in the bedroom. They say it may have been used to assault the victim, who had been unable to free himself.

"He's a good, hard-working guy," said Harvey Veniski, one of the victim's customers. "And it's a shame this happened to him."

Police are using surveillance video as they work to track down the two suspects.

The victim remains hospitalized at Aria-Jefferson Health's Torresdale facility.

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