UPDATE @ 6.00am, Thursday September 24 | Police have now charged a second teenager over an alleged vicious assault on a security guard at a Gold Coast shopping centre.
A 66-year-old man suffered serious head injuries after allegedly being attacked and punched in the head at Westfield Coomera around 6.40pm on Tuesday, before he fell to the ground and hit his head.
The security guard was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.
Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said the guard had approached a group of young people when an altercation broke out.
“I understand that they hadn’t been at the shopping centre for long and that they were loitering in the area and he’s approached them as part of his job to ask them to move on,” Inspector Mooney told reporters on Wednesday.
It’s believed six people, both boys and girls aged between 14 and 18, were in the group, but only two males were involved in the alleged attack.
The group had all left by the time police arrived and are believed to have headed in the direction of the Coomera train station and hopped on some form of public transport.
The group ran away from the shopping centre in the direction of the Coomera station and may have used public transport.
“How they left from there we’re not 100 per cent certain,” he said.
“We believe they have utilised public transport, but that’s all part of our inquiries.”
The 15-year-old Eagleby boy was arrested outside Southport Court after appearing on another matter.
He was charged with one count of serious assault of a person over 60
He was due to appear at the Southport Children’s Court on Wednesday afternoon.
A 16-year-old Coomera boy was arrested on Wednesday in Coomera.
He has also been charged with serious assault of a person over 60.
The teen is due to front Southport Children’s Court today.
Inspector Mooney said police are treating the matter very seriously.
“We treat all acts of violence very seriously,” he said.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe while going about their daily activities, including those simply doing their jobs.
“Shopping centres and busy public places .. we want everyone to know that these environments are safe and that we as the police are doing everything we can to ensure that is the case.”
EARLIER @ 6.30am | A security guard is in a serious condition after being set upon by two teens at a popular Gold Coast shopping Centre.
Emergency services were called Westfield Coomera at 6.43pm on Tuesday after reports of an assault.
The 66-year-old male security guard fell to the ground during the incident and hit his head.
He was seriously injured and rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
The teens behind the alleged assault were seen fleeing towards the nearby train station.
Police have been unable to confirm reports that the group were teenagers.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with Police scouring CCTV footage from the area to track down those responsible.
