A Veterans Affairs employee was captured on surveillance video brutally beating an elderly Vietnam veteran at a Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in April, according to a shocking video first revealed this week.
Phillip Webb, 73, was attacked at the Fort McPherson VA clinic in Atlanta, Ga. on April 28, according to WSB-TV. Video of the beating was released on Monday by investigative reporter Justin Gray on Twitter, who obtained the video via a Freedom of Information Act request.
“I’ve obtained by FOIA surveillance video of the brutal beating of elderly Vietnam vet by a VA employee at an Atlanta VA clinic. @2Investigates was 1st to report on the attack last month. The attacker, Lawrence Gaillard is still employed by VA. @wsbtv at 6,” Gray tweeted.
Lawrence F. Gaillard Jr., the VA employee who brutally beat Webb, was arrested and charged for the attack.
According to WSB-TV, Gaillard was still employed at the VA despite being arrested for the brutal beating.
“For them to let him come back to work, that’s dangerous,” Webb said.
The video shows Gaillard putting his finger in Webb’s face. Webb tries to brush it away, at which point Gaillard aggressively shoves Webb against the wall and chokes him using both hands. Gaillard then flips Webb over a chair, slamming him into the ground before stomping on his head. He kicks Webb in the head a second time and slowly walks out the door.
WSB-TV reported that Gray showed Webb footage of the assault, but the veteran said he couldn’t really remember what occurred.
Webb told the outlet that he was trying to notify Gaillard that he was going to the bathroom just before the attack. Webb had been waiting to schedule a hernia surgery at the time.
“I guess he got upset because I hit at his door,” said Webb, who spent three days in the hospital with a bleeding brain after the assault.
“He was Mike Tyson-ing me there,” Webb said. “I’m just stunned. I don’t know what to say.”
The initial charges against Gaillard were filed in federal court, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office dropped the charges due to jurisdictional issues. The Fulton County District Attorney has taken over the investigation.
“We are horrified at the video of a V.A. employee assaulting a Veteran at the Atlanta VA Health Care System on April 28,” the VA said in a statement. “This disturbing behavior is contrary to our core values of treating Veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve. We take this matter seriously and will cooperate fully with Fulton County law enforcement.”
