Man walking home from work brutally attacked, robbed in South Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A South Philadelphia father of three is recovering after a violent assault and robbery while walking home from work late Friday night.

German Corona, 46, said he had just finished a 13-hour workday between two jobs and was heading home around 10:30 p.m. when he noticed a group following him near the 2500 block of South 10th Street.

The moments leading up to the attack were captured on multiple Ring cameras along the block.

"When I see three guys, I moved to the other side. I think when they saw me move to the other side, they started running," Corona said.

The men are seen on video following him and then closing in. One of the men is seen pointing at Corona before the attack.

"They don't... they don't say anything," he said.

According to Corona, he was struck in the back of the head with an object and lost consciousness.

"They knocked me out for like one minute. When I wake up, I saw a lot of blood on the floor," he explained.

Corona said that when he regained consciousness, the group continued beating him while he was on the ground.

"They started hitting my face and they tell me, 'Give me the money.' I just took my wallet and threw everything. I just had $200, that's it," he said.

He said the attackers took his cash and ran away.

Corona suffered a broken nose and required three staples to his head.

Neighbors came outside after hearing him call for help and assisted him until emergency crews arrived. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Corona said he believes the group appeared to be teenagers or young adults and said all but one appeared to be wearing masks.

The assault has left him shaken and afraid to walk alone at night.

"I walk on the street for like 10 years every night. Every night. Sometimes I come out from work at like 12 o'clock. Never worried, nothing. It's always nice and quiet," he said.

Neighbors said the incident has rattled the community.

"It's horrifying, it's absolutely horrifying to know that something like this can happen so close to home," said Loretta Iannuzzi, who lives in South Philadelphia.

"We shouldn't be afraid to walk in our neighborhoods," she added.

Corona said he is taking time away from work as he recovers and hopes sharing his story prevents something similar from happening again.

"I don't want it to happen again to anybody else," he said.