MERIDEN -- In what police are calling an "unprovoked assault," officers are searching for up to five suspects who randomly attacked a man and his wife while grocery shopping on Sunday.
Around 3 p.m. police were called to the Stop & Shop on Broad Street in Meriden.
"It appears as though the victims tried to separate themselves from the suspects while walking to the store and they're kind of chattering to one another like, 'Just ignore them. Try to ignore them.' But the suspects became so persistent and kind of so involved with these two victims it became at that point unavoidable and things escalated so quickly. They never really could have anticipated such a negative outcome," explained Sergeant Darrin McKay with Meriden police.
The men continued to harass the couple and then surrounded them, police said. Then, one of the suspects threatened to punch the woman and another suspect hit the husband from behind. Police say the victim was punched in the face, knocked unconscious, and had several teeth knocked out.
"The victims did not know any of the suspects and at this time the assault and the harassment certainly appears to have been unprovoked," said Sgt. McKay.
All five of the suspects are pictured in various surveillance photos, including the white Ford Fusion they were riding in. All of the suspects are believed to be in their late teens or 20s.
Sgt. McKay made sure to mention they only have one side of the story right now, and until police can interview the five suspects, they won't be able to fully investigate what happened.
If you have any information or can identify the men, police ask that you call Detective Mike Fonda at (203) 630-4178.