HOUSTON – The surveillance video is difficult to watch.
Four guys can be seen walking up to another man leaving an Exxon convenience store in Harris County and beating him up.
The victim identified himself as Mason. He never let go of his groceries as his attackers took turns punching and kicking him on the ground. He was alone for only several seconds when a fifth attacker walked up.
“He comes up to me, kicks me in the face, and screams, “Black Lives Matter, b****!” Mason said.
He said he walked home to his apartment, where his girlfriend, Kelli, called 911.
“His face was all bloody and he was holding his bags,” Kelli said.
They did not want to use their last names.
“I was just sitting there on the ground kind of in shock, I didn’t know what to think,” Mason said.
It all started on Sunday around 7 p.m. when Mason was at the front of the line inside the convenience store buying cigarettes, snacks and beer.
He said he was about to pay for his groceries when four or five guys walked up to the counter, set their things down, and started talking to the cashier.
“I kind of looked over and said, ‘There’s a line for a reason,’” Mason said. “They started, like, mocking me and stuff.”
Surveillance footage shows the group waiting outside and approaching Mason as soon as he left the store. Mason said he believed his attackers ranged in age from 15-24.
“That’s not what the (Black Lives Matter) movement is about,” Mason said. “Not to be used as an excuse (for violence).”
“That’s not what this movement is about,” Kelli said in agreement. “It’s really heartbreaking to see that being abused.”