Search on for invaders who attacked 78-year-old man in Norridge
NORRIDGE, Ill. (CBS) -- A 78-year-old man was brutally attacked in his family's backyard in Norridge last week.
On Monday night, his family spoke out – and shared video of the moment it all went down in broad daylight this past Friday.
As CBS 2's Chris Tye reported, police say they have identified a person of interest in the attack. The family thinks they know the person that was bold enough to slide open the back door – and then attack the elderly man who came out to see what was going on.
At 1:36 p.m. this past Friday, three masked men entered Vanya Khouri's backyard. Video shows one of the masked men opening a sliding glass door — and then they see Khouri's parents inside.
That sight that sent all three men running to exit the yard.
Moments later, Khouri's 78-year-old father, Najadt Bitar, enters the picture.
"He was trying to see - where did they go, and what's going on?" Khouri said.
Cameras track Bitar as he walks behind the garage, where he says the three men savagely beat him. The security camera audio picks up the attack.
Moments later, Bitar emerged from behind the garage bloodied - asking his wife to call police.
As to her dad's present condition, Khouri said, "Things are better than the first day- but it's not easy."
The attack sent Bitar to the hospital in critical condition. He was there for three nights.
Bitar is now back at his daughter's home resting. Norridge police say they have identified a person of interest – and the family also thinks they know who was behind it based on the voice and "walk" of one of the three men.
"I heard one of them say: 'Open the side door! Open the side door!'" Khouri said.
As an investigation continues — and a 78-year-old man heals — a daughter worries about what could happen if the attackers were to come back, as she relives the scariest Friday afternoon of her life.
"I saw my dad with blood all over the face," Khouri said.
Norridge police declined to answer questions Monday night. But anyone with information is asked to call Norridge police at (708) 453-4770.
