Police shut down two lanes of state Route 163 after a transient allegedly attacked a transgender homeless person in Balboa Park on the morning of Friday, Jan 26.

According to reports, a park visitor ran to a market on Fifth Avenue and Nutmeg Street shortly after 10:30 a.m. to call police about a person found beaten and bloody on Balboa Drive and Nutmeg Street.

Officers were told that a flashlight was used in the assault and the object was recovered at the park.

Shortly thereafter, a 25-year-old homeless man suspected of the attack ran across state Route 163 near the Cabrillo Bridge and caused several non-injury accidents. Officers arrested the suspect and identified him as Judah McBreairty. Another man found in the center divide was also taken into custody.

According to reports, McBreairty was obviously upset over the ordeal and yelled out to the media and onlookers to move along as police escorted him away in handcuffs.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and is now recovering from his injuries.

Officials said that both the victim and the suspect are homeless and live in a Balboa Park canyon.

Witnesses said the 19-year-old victim was jumped from behind and beaten with a foot-long flashlight. The victim was struck four to five times and received three inch-long gashes, one under the eye and two on the head.

According to police, witnesses said that there was bad blood between the victim and his alleged attacker and that they had argued over stolen property before the attack.

“McBreairty was not well regarded by the transient community and was known to be involved in some socially deviant behavior,” said Lt. Margaret Schaufelberger of the San Diego Police Department. “Friends of the victim said he was threatened on Thursday and that his assailant delivered on those threats on Friday.”

McBreairty remains in custody and is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

Schaufelberger clarified that this attack is not being viewed as a hate crime and is not related to the recent string of hate-related attacks in the area.