Video: Violent Robbery Of Lyft Driver Captured On Camera

SOUTH EL MONTE, CA — Police are looking for a violent robber who pistol-whipped a Lyft driver in South El Monte on Tuesday. The attack was caught on camera, and the community has rallied around the victim Paul Liao, raised thousands to help cover his medical bills.

The attack occurred at about 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday at the Arco station at Rush Street and Rosemead Boulevard, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

In a video of the assault released Thursday Fox11, the robber wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap can be seen climbing into the backseat with a gun in his hand. He argues with the driver for more than a minute. He demands money and grabs the driver's cellphone. He then apparently tried to get the driver to leave the car so he could steal it, but the driver persuaded him not to do that, ABC7 reported.

The driver eventually handed over his wallet, which held $1,560, ABC7 said, quoting the driver's family. Twice during the robbery the man hit the driver in the face with a gun, leaving him with a bruised and bloody nose.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video contains violence.

"The man had his hand on the trigger of his gun and tried to carjack him." Liao's daughter-in-law Christine Ting wrote on a GoFundMe page for Liao. "Police still have not yet found the suspect. Please help Paul to recover some of the money he lost and to help pay for a new cellphone and some medical expenses."

A GoFundMe page was created to help Liao with his recovery, and by Friday afternoon, it had raised almost $22,000.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call the Sheriff's Department at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

City News Service contributed to this report.