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Senior citizen robbed, beaten with aluminum baseball bat on steps of church in southwest Detroit

Posted at 8:35 AM, Sep 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-24 08:35:43-04

Editor's note: Warning, the GoFundMe page shows a graphic image of Mr. Flores' injuries. Please be cautious before clicking on the link.

"All I remember is these two guys jumped on me and they beat me up," Jaime Salinas Flores told 7 Action News shortly after he was released from Detroit Receiving Hospital Wednesday where doctors told him he sustained a concussion.

Flores, 63, also has multiple lacerations and contusions, mostly on the top of his head, after he was beaten and robbed Tuesday evening as he sat on the steps of a church on Springwells Street near Vernor in southwest Detroit.

Detroit Police said it appears the assailants used an aluminum baseball bat.

Detectives are investigating and trying to secure surveillance video from nearby homes and businesses that may be able to help them identify suspects in the case.

"I don't have no toes, so I cannot fight back that much," Flores said.

After the bloody attack, Flores staggered a couple blocks to the street where his family has lived for over 50 years.

"There was blood everywhere," said Jessica Ramirez who alerted her family to call 911 when she saw Flores walking, covered in blood.

"People take advantage of him because they know he's older and he drinks and he's not going to be able to defend himself," Ramirez said. "And on our watch, that's gonna stop."

Flores said he didn't recognize the men who attacked him. "I wish I knew who they were," he said.

Ramirez walked us to an old truck that appears to be permanently parked on a vacant lot. The truck belonged to Flores's late father and he now sleeps in the truck that sits parked across from the old house where his parents lived.

The truck is home for Flores.

"As long as you're honest, we're gonna help you," said Ramirez who started a GoFundMe accountfor Flores in hopes of raising enough money to rent him a small place of his own where he can continue to recover in peace and because Ramirez said Flores doesn't drink as much when he has a place to stay.

Please be warned that the photo on the GoFundMe account was taken as Ramirez and neighbors were waiting for EMS to respond and it's very graphic.

"He don't bother nobody," Ramirez said. "We're gonna pay his rent for him in advance so he's not on the street this winter."

Ramirez is known in southwest Detroit for helping people with basic needs such as food and clothing. She also helps pet owners with food and spay/neuter clinics.

Ramirez founded the Facebook group called "Detroiters Helping Each Other."

"We all try to help who we can and it hits personally because I remember being homeless at 14 and pregnant," Ramirez said. "So seeing that, and even though he's set in his ways, he's still a human being and he still deserves respect."

Anyone with information about the attack on Flores is urged to call Detroit Police detectives at 313-596-5440.

"Just be careful out there," Flores said. "There's a lot of bad people out there."