KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A 23-year-old man ran into trouble while looking for Pokemon around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
A group of young men seemed to be watching the man as he walked around the Kannapolis Research Campus.
“After a couple steps of getting past them, they said ‘nice tablet’ and I turned around, and before I could even turn all the way around one of them clocked me on my eyebrow,” said the victim. He knew he was in trouble and ran for his life to a well-lit area on West Avenue.
He was able to get away but spent hours at the hospital, where he got stitches for the wound.
Police say they are taking the case very seriously. They couldn’t say if the suspects were specifically targeting players of “Pokemon Go” or if it was a crime of opportunity.
Today neighbors said the victim is fortunate that things weren’t worse.
“I think people should pay attention, because when your head’s down you’re not focused on what’s around you,” Christine Gant said.
The victim also had advice for others. “Just be with other people, don’t walk by yourself,” he said.