Man Allegedly Rips Stranger’s Eye Out in Random Attack After the Victim Simply Asked This Friendly 4-Word Phrase

In an appalling incident in Phoenix, an Arizona man was left severely injured after a random and unprovoked attack that resulted in the loss of his eye. The alleged assailant, 38-year-old Daniel Lanks, now faces felony aggravated assault charges following the shocking assault on a stranger in the early hours of April 14.

Reports from local outlets AZFamily, AZCentral, and FOX 10 Phoenix detailed the harrowing sequence of events. The victim, who remains unnamed, encountered Lanks near a shop at the intersection of Broadway Avenue Road and 48th Street. The victim innocently greeted Lanks with a simple question, asking, “How are you doing?” In a sudden turn of events, Lanks responded aggressively, threatening to assault him.

Despite the victim’s attempts to walk away, Lanks proceeded to launch a vicious attack. Witnesses described a horrifying scene where Lanks forcibly removed the victim’s right eye by sticking his fingers into the socket. Following the eye-gouging, Lanks reportedly continued his assault by repeatedly punching the victim in the face, causing further injuries including a fractured jaw.

The victim managed to make his way home, where his girlfriend promptly called emergency services. Medical responders were confronted with the gruesome sight of the victim’s eyeball hanging by a thread from its socket. The severity of the injuries inflicted during the unprovoked attack was evident, with the victim requiring urgent medical attention for his fractured jaw and loss of vision.

Later that day, authorities located Lanks in a health care office lobby and swiftly apprehended him. According to reports, Lanks was uncooperative during the arrest, dismissing officers and showing a lack of comprehension regarding his rights. Subsequent identification through a photo lineup by the victim confirmed Lanks as the perpetrator of the vicious assault.

Court documents highlighted the profound impact of the attack on the victim’s life, with statements revealing the ongoing physical and emotional trauma resulting from the incident. The victim expressed fear for his life during the brutal assault, describing the attack as entirely unprovoked and devoid of any justification or prior altercation.

Further scrutiny into Lanks’ background indicated a recent history of brushes with the law. Prior charges of aggravated assault and organized retail theft in March shed light on a pattern of violent behavior. Released on recognizance just a week before the eye-gouging incident, Lanks now faces significant legal repercussions, having been charged with felony aggravated assault and remanded in custody on a $500,000 cash bond.

The chilling assault serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and potential dangers lurking in everyday encounters. The victim’s ordeal underscores the lasting consequences of senseless violence and the importance of swift intervention in cases of unprovoked aggression. As the legal process unfolds, the community awaits justice for the victim and accountability for the alleged perpetrator.