ATLANTA — The general manager of Underground Atlanta says a group of suspected looters attacked him while he actually tried to help them during the height of violent protests in downtown Atlanta.
Craig Waters says he was called to Underground Atlanta by security after looters vandalized several businesses. He arrived after midnight, and while surveying the damage, saw a group of people approach him. Water says he tried to warn the group about broken glass on the ground and they jumped him.
“They attacked me. Beat me pretty bad, kicking me quite a bit. Then I passed out,” Waters told Channel 2′s Tom Jones.
A security guard arrived and pulled Waters to safety and he was taken to the hospital. Doctors say he has several injuries and cuts, including a broken eye socket.
“My face hurts pretty bad. My jaw hurts,” Waters said.
Waters said he was home with his wife watching a movie and then he went to bed, oblivious that peaceful protests in downtown Atlanta had turned so violent.
Even after returning to the complex after being released from the hospital Waters said he found looters still stealing from a Metro PCS store.
Waters added that he’s sympathetic toward the protesters and is upset by what happened to George Floyd, a man killed by police in Minnesota that touched off protests across the country.
“The gentleman that was killed, it was horrible, but I don’t believe that beating me had anything to do with helping that gentleman out,” Waters said. “Just quit being so violent out there. This has nothing to do with it.”