A Democratic candidate for the West Virginia Senate was brutally attacked this weekend. The police are considering it a politically motivated crime because the state has their primary tomorrow. Richard Ojeda suffered many lacerations and a concussion. He is also experiencing swelling in the face as well.
He was at a friend’s barbeque when he was ambushed. One of the attendees lured him away from the crowd to help put a bumper sticker on a car. When Ojeda bent down to put the sticker on the bumper, the suspect hit him in the back of the head. He was knocked unconscious and then the attacker hit him in the face and head with brass knuckles. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the attacker then tried to run over Ojeda with his car!
Neighbors saw the suspect, Jonathan Porter, running away from the scene. He crashed into some ATVs, which hindered his escape. Porter turned himself in six hours later. Ojeda’s opponent, Art Kirkendoll, said that he was not involved with the incident. Ojeda will be undergoing surgery soon. He hoped to be out of the hospital by primary day, but he wasn’t.
Kirkendoll had this to say in a statement he issued:
“I was informed that my opponent was physically assaulted and injured at a political function today. I do not now, nor have I ever, condoned violence. It has no place in our political campaigns or in our communities. My and my family’s thoughts and prayers are with my opponent and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
Ojeda posted this along with a picture of his face:
“Sorry for the pic but make no mistake, I am now even more dedicated to the cause. This doesn’t scare me and I don’t quit! This was premeditated and there was a reason the guy did this. Regardless….if anyone thinks that this will get me to march in line you obviously don’t know me very well.”
Learn more about Richard Ojeda below:
Featured image by mcclave via Flickr, available under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
