Sandy MaloneLos Angeles, CA – Two men have been arrested for fighting with Target security guards who were escorting them out of the store for not wearing face masks (video below).
The incident began at about 10:20 a.m. on May 1 at the Target store location in the 570-block of Sepulveda Blvd, KNBC reported.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s “Safer at Home” order enacted on April 15 requires that everyone wear masks inside essential businesses that remain open.
But 31-year-old Phillip Hamilton and 29-year-old Paul Hamilton took exception to Target security guard enforcing the city’s pandemic policies, KNBC reported.
Surveillance video from inside the store showed three masked security officers waking behind two men without masks.
The security guards had asked the men to leave the store because they were not wearing masks, KNBC reported.
Suddenly, one of the men turned around and attacked one of the security guards, the video showed.
The video showed the man shoved the security guard and then punched him in the face, KTTV reported.
Then the second suspect jumped into the fight and a second security guard tried to intervene, the video showed.
The second suspect turned on the second security officer and attacked him.
Both of the security guards were taken to the ground by the suspects and continued to fight until a good Samaritan stopped at the end of the aisle and tried to intervene, the video showed.
When the uninvolved customer stopped the fight, the suspects and one of the security guards got back to their feet, but one of the Target security guards remained on the floor injured.
After a moment, the suspects took off, walking out of the store at a normal pace.
The good Samaritan at the end of the aisle stepped out of the way to let them pass, the video showed.
One of the Target security officers followed the suspects and the other stayed behind to assist their downed colleague, the video showed.
Police said the security guard was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken arm, KTTV reported.
Phillip Hamilton and Paul Hamilton were arrested later the same day and charged with felony battery.
It’s not know what familial relationship, if any, exists between the two men, KNBC reported.
Police said that pandemic-related attacks have become a concerning trending in California in recent weeks.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content: