Griffith Park

Griffith Park Attack Not Random: Police

The unidentified victim was reportedly meeting with a man in the park to do methamphetamine.

A man initially believed to be a hiker found critically injured in Griffith Park was not attacked at random, and was instead involved in an altercation with another man he had arranged to meet to do drugs, police said Tuesday.

The unidentified man was found Monday afternoon along a trail near Fern Dell and Oak Road, and was hoisted out by helicopter before being taken to a local hospital.

Initially believed to be a hiker who had been assaulted along the trail, police later determined the victim had met his assailant earlier in the afternoon and the two went to the park to take methamphetamines.

The victim was beaten with a steel trash can during a fight, Detective Jeana Franco of LAPD’s Northeast Division said.

Hikers were out Tuesday morning, hitting the trails and feeling a sense of relief that the man responsible has been arrested the person they believe to be behind the attack which has left one man in the hospital in serious condition.

Several hours after the victim was found, Tyrone Isumu, 54, was found near Immaculate Heart High School in the 5500 block of Franklin Avenue. Classes were briefly placed on lockdown while police looked for him.

"They knew there was someone on campus, travels around the campus," said Kris Kachikis, whose two daughters attend the school.

Isumu has been charged with attempted murder. The victim, who remains sedated and was found without identification, was badly injured around the head and shoulders.

Police and local officials were quick to stress the incident was not related to two attacks on women in the park earlier this year, and that the park is safe.

Most hikers agreed about the safety of the trails.

Marina Stewart has been visiting the park almost every morning for the past 30 years.

"I feel pretty safe, I come in a large group for hiking," she said.

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