The family of a man who endured a severe beating while working in Garden Grove is appealing for help in identifying the individuals responsible for the attack.
Carlos Ayala’s harrowing assault has inflicted a lasting trauma on his entire family. According to his daughter, Sara, her 54-year-old father now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sara stated, “He becomes startled by loud noises. His instinct is to either strike back or defend himself because, unfortunately, that’s the last memory he has.”
She added, “He flinched when I tried to show affection towards him, and it’s unjust because it has never been like this before.”
Sara recounted that her father and his colleagues were in the process of paving the parking lot of a shopping center in Garden Grove, near Westminster Avenue and Brookhurst Street, shortly before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20.
According to Sara, a group of men exiting Hay Karaoke attacked them after being requested not to step on the freshly laid asphalt. The assault inflicted severe brain injuries on Carlos, including swelling, bleeding, and skull fractures, as Sara explained.
“I had to track him down,” the daughter revealed. “I didn’t know where he was, so I had to contact various hospitals. I was calling wherever I thought he might be. I had to identify my father as if he were no longer here.”
Sara mentioned that the Garden Grove police are actively working to obtain surveillance footage of the assault, and they have informed her that as many as 20 people might have been involved.
Although her father is slowly recovering, he is suffering from significant memory loss. “We ask him, ‘Do you remember what happened?’ He doesn’t know,” she said. “We have conversations with him, and then 30 seconds later, he forgets what he just told us.”
Sara is determined to ensure that those responsible for the attack face justice. She described her father as a dedicated family man who takes care of his loved ones, emphasizing that he did not deserve to fall victim to such an assault.
“He’s an amazing person, enjoyable to be around… you rarely see him feeling down,” Sara expressed. “He’s usually very happy.” She implores anyone with information to contact the Garden Grove Police Department as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist Carlos with his medical expenses as he continues on the path to recovery.
