A 19-year-old young man was seriously burned after being sprayed with ammonia by a homeless person. He had agreed to lend his phone to two homeless people so that they could make a call.
When he tried to retrieve it, they got carried away, and one of them threw ammonia in his face, a highly corrosive substance which can cause irreversible damage. Ammonia is sometimes used mixed with cocaine by crack users, so the possibility that his attacker was an addict is strongly considered. Two homeless people are actively sought by the police. They face 15 years of criminal imprisonment for violence resulting in mutilation or permanent disability. The young man victim of this attack had to be urgently hospitalized and could have after-effects on his throat and in his right eye for the rest of his life. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for severe burns to his face and throat. His injuries are not life-threatening, but he could suffer long-term damage to his neck and eyesight. He is in a stable condition in the hospital.