Brentwood Gardener Brutally Beaten in Broad Daylight by Homeless Man Outside Client’s Home

On the morning of June 23, 2025, a quiet Brentwood neighborhood was shaken by a violent and seemingly random attack that has left residents outraged and calling for urgent action.

Rodolfo Roman, a local gardener well-known in the community, was working outside a home on the 11900 block of Dorothy Street when the violence occurred. Witnesses say a shirtless man, later identified as a homeless individual squatting at a nearby abandoned property, approached Roman and began yelling about the noise from his lawn tools. When Roman calmly asked the man to leave, the situation escalated without warning.

The suspect pulled out a large stick and began brutally striking Roman in the head and face. Even after Roman fell to the ground, the attacker continued his assault, breaking Roman’s arm as he tried to shield himself. The attack only stopped once the assailant fled the scene.

Roman was rushed to the hospital, where he received multiple staples for a head wound and a cast for his fractured arm. Speaking from his hospital bed, he recalled the terrifying moment: “I was very scared. My legs were shaking and I’m down on the ground.”

The attack was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, drawing attention not only to the brutal nature of the assault but also to the larger issue of public safety in the area.

Braden Yuill, the homeowner whose yard Roman was tending, described the aftermath with visible emotion. “He comes every week and he’s just the most beautiful guy in the world, and he was just covered in blood,” Yuill said.

Neighbors say the attacker had been living at an abandoned, fire-damaged property next door—a home that has reportedly been a hotspot for squatters, fires, and criminal activity for years. Despite numerous complaints and calls to authorities, residents say little has been done to resolve the situation.

Sean Heffron, who lives adjacent to the property, said the neighborhood has been living in fear. “This has been a living nightmare. Criminal activity has increased. There was even a fire there last week.”

Yuill said he’s tried everything—including offering to buy the property—to no avail. “I’ve got two young kids and I’m scared for the neighborhood. This guy’s violent, he’s mentally ill, and he needs to be taken off the streets.”

As Roman begins the long road to recovery, a GoFundMe page has been launched by Yuill to support him while he’s unable to work.

Authorities located and arrested the suspect the day after the attack, near Bundy Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard in the Sawtelle neighborhood. His identity has not been released.

Residents are now urging the city to take immediate and lasting action to address the ongoing threat posed by neglected properties and unchecked squatting in residential neighborhoods.

This attack serves as a grim reminder of how quickly public safety can be compromised, even in broad daylight and in areas once considered safe.

Source: KTLA