Long Beach vendor recovering after assault

Long Beach ice cream vendor Eliu Ramirez said he was assaulted while working near Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier on July 4, leaving him with serious injuries and unable to work as he recovers. ABC7 reported on July 8 that Ramirez said the attack happened while he was selling near the pier and that a GoFundMe set up for him had raised more than $9,000. The Long Beach Police Department told ABC7 that no arrests had been made and that the investigation was ongoing. FOX 11 separately reported that Ramirez described the assault as brutal and said he has been unable to return to work since the attack. ### Who is the vendor and what does he say happened? Eliu Ramirez identified himself in local television reports as the vendor who was attacked while selling ice cream in Long Beach. FOX 11 reported Ramirez said he was “brutally attacked” at Belmont Pier on July 4 and could no longer work afterward. A separate local report summarized his injuries as including a fractured nose and vision problems. (abc7.com) ABC7 reported the attack happened near Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier during the Independence Day holiday. The station said Ramirez told reporters he suffered multiple injuries and was left unable to support his family while recovering. ### What have police said about the case? The Long Beach Police Department told ABC7 that no arrests had been made in the case. (foxla.com) ABC7 said the investigation was ongoing as of its July 8 report. July 9 coverage from FOX 11 focused on Ramirez’s account and his recovery, and did not report an arrest. The available local reporting reviewed here does not identify a suspect. (abc7.com) ### How badly was he hurt, and why has the case drawn attention? ABC7 described Ramirez’s injuries as serious and said they left him unable to work. The station also reported that supporters had turned to crowdfunding, with a GoFundMe raising more than $9,000. (abc7.com) FOX 11 said Ramirez’s account added to local concern about violence against street vendors in the Los Angeles area. (foxla.com) The station linked his case to broader attention on attacks targeting vendors, including another recent incident involving street vendor Arabelia Martinez in downtown Los Angeles. ### What have city officials said about violence against vendors? (abc7.com) Capri Maddox, executive director of the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, said the city supports street vendors and “will not tolerate discrimination and violence,” according to Beverly Press. The statement came as Los Angeles officials and advocates publicly addressed safety concerns facing vendors. (foxla.com) Beverly Press reported the city response in the context of recent attacks on vendors in the region. An additional local report said Maddox joined city leaders, law enforcement officials and community advocates in speaking out about violence and discrimination affecting immigrant vendors. ### What happens next? The Long Beach Police Department’s investigation was still open as of ABC7’s July 8 report, with no arrests announced. (beverlypress.com) Ramirez’s recovery and fundraising effort were still central parts of the story in July 9 local coverage. Capri Maddox’s office and local advocates have continued to frame vendor safety as an active issue, while Ramirez remains unable to work during his recovery, according to ABC7 and FOX 11. (beverlypress.com) (abc7.com)