A high school janitor in Victorville was kicked, punched and shot in the face by three teenagers Monday night who appeared to be armed with rifle-style paintball guns, authorities said.
The attack was reported around 8:30 p.m. at Victor Valley High School at 16500 Mojave Drive, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Deputies said the janitor was near the pool area when he was struck in the face with paintball rounds.
Jose Benitez said he was working his normal night shift when he was suddenly confronted by three teenage boys.
"I have a family. They worry about me and I said I'm thankful to be alive," Benitez, who has worked at the school for the last 10 years, said.
It was unclear whether the teens were students at Victor Valley High School.
"I thought in my mind I'm going to die over here," he said.
The 65-year-old husband and father of four said he was hit at point-blank range by the paintballs, which left a mark on his face.
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"All of a sudden they shot me," Benitez said. "I thought it was a real gun."
Benitez said he tried to shield himself from the attackers.
"He pushed me in my face, and threw me to the cement and started kicking me three or four times," he said. "I got a key chain and I tried to hit somebody, but they started running."
He called 911 and stayed in a school locker room until deputies arrived. He was hospitalized with minor injuries, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
He has cuts and bruises including one on his face, and is now recovering at home.
No arrests were immediately made in connection with the assault. Authorities are checking surveillance video, hoping to identify the teens, who appear to be about 15 or 16.
Benitez said he was shocked by the attack.
"That's not right we go to work to clean, and all of the sudden it happen to me like that?" he said. "Don't do those kind of things because the whole family suffers"
Oleevia Woo, Rick Montanez and Corey Arvin contributed to this report.
