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Police Searching For Witness After Random, Violent Attack In Lynn

LYNN (CBS) -- A man was randomly and "violently attacked" in Lynn last week, according to police.

Lynn Police have now gone public with their search for a mystery witness who saw the brutal attack outside a convenience store on Western Avenue last Wednesday night.

"From what we can tell, 100% random," said Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec.

It was about 6 p.m. on February 10 when a 32-year-old neighbor walked over to the store to grab a few items.

"When he didn't return home after a brief period of time, another family member went out to look for him and they found him on the sidewalk," said Kmiec.

He was unconscious, his head split open by a blunt object. But as he went to the hospital in critical condition, police learned of a man who had apparently seen everything.

"We know that a witness saw the incident occur, because he stopped and he talked with the victim's family," Kmiec said.

But that witness never spoke to police, who at the time were working a similar attack just blocks away in Market Square where a 29-year-old woman was struck from behind with a blunt object.

Her injury is not as serious, but the pair of random assaults has clearly rattled folks.

"It scares me to go out, to be able to go out of my apartment," Dawn Dunne said. "I don't want to be attacked."

Police quickly arrested a suspect for attacking the woman and have surveillance video to back it up, but that missing witness is critical to proving a link to that man left in critical condition on Western Ave.

"He's fighting for his life right now and the best thing we can do for him at this point is bring the suspect to justice," Kmiec said.

Police are asking anyone who saw something to contact them.

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