A man in Phoenix, Arizona, is recovering after a brutal and unprovoked assault left him without an eye and a fractured jaw. The alleged attacker, 38-year-old Daniel Lanks, has been charged with felony aggravated assault and is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
The incident happened around 1 a.m. on Monday, April 14, near the intersection of Broadway Avenue Road and 48th Street.
A Simple Greeting Turns Violent
According to court documents, the victim, whose name has not been shared, was walking down the street when he greeted a man standing outside a shop with a casual, “How are you doing?”
That man was later identified as Daniel Lanks, who had just been released from jail two days earlier in a different assault and theft case.
In response, Lanks reportedly threatened the victim, saying he would “whoop his a–.”
The victim tried to avoid conflict and kept walking. But Lanks then approached him from behind, forced his fingers into the man’s right eye socket, and pulled the eye out. He then punched the victim repeatedly, according to police reports.
Medical Emergency and Police Investigation
The man ran home in pain, where his girlfriend called 911. Emergency responders discovered that his right eye was hanging from its socket, and he also had a fractured jaw.
At the hospital, the man told police the attack was completely unprovoked and that he had no weapon, made no threats, and didn’t challenge Lanks in any way.
“This assault has changed his life forever,” said the police report. “He’s unsure if he will ever work again or even manage basic life activities.”
Suspect Arrested Hours Later
Police found Daniel Lanks around 2 p.m. the same day, sitting in the lobby of a nearby health care office. When arrested, Lanks reportedly cursed at officers and said he did not understand his Miranda rights.
Three days later, the victim positively identified Lanks in a photo lineup, confirming him as the attacker.
History of Violence
This was not Lanks’ first run-in with the law. In March, he had been arrested on separate charges of aggravated assault and organized retail theft. He had been released without bail just a week before this new attack.
Following the latest incident, Lanks was booked into Maricopa County Jail, and aggravated assault felony charges were filed. His cash-only bond was set at $500,000.