Suspect arrested following attack outside south side pizza shop

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Milwaukee police arrested a 24-year-old man Friday, accused of violently attacking another man on Milwaukee's South Side.

The incident happened Wednesday night outside Beto's Pizza near 16th and Greenfield. Security cameras outside the restaurant captured the attack.

The videos, shared by the owner of Beto's Pizza, show a man walking into the restaurant around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

About 45 minutes later, the same man is seen waiting outside the restaurant, peering through the windows, then ducking away.

When another customer comes out, the man rushes him from behind, violently beats and kicks him, and runs off, leaving the victim laying on the sidewalk.

Loved ones identified the man who was attacked as Larry Rauch.

A GoFundMe page posted Friday shows a photo of Rauch after the assault, noting he suffered severe face injuries requiring stitches, a black eye, and a broken nose.

The page describes Rauch as mentally and physically disabled, which makes it hard for him to run or move quickly.

"The guy literally pummeled him, kicked him in the face," said Pastor Marty Calderon, an advocate with Milwaukee Promise Keepers, a community violence prevention group. "It hurt to see Larry get attacked so viciously."

Calderon said he has known Rauch since he was fourteen, calling him a peaceful, funny, and genuine person.

"He's not one to pick a fight. He won't do that," he explained. "Whatever transpired in there, I know Larry wasn't the aggressor. I know it for a fact."

Though Calderon doesn't know what happened inside Beto's before the attack, he can't imagine it was warranted.

"Maybe this guy just was angry, and didn't like what Larry was talking about, what Larry said, took it personal, and said, 'I'm going to beat this guy up,'" he surmised.

Calderon said Rauch is now out of the hospital, and he is thankful for the community's help leading to an arrest in the incident.

He feels the video serves as a reminder to be aware of your surroundings.

"This could happen to anybody, and it's sad that our world is like that right now," said Calderon.

CBS 58 is not showing the suspect's face because he hasn't been charged yet. The Milwaukee Police Department referred charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.