88-year-old man fights back against attacker in the Bronx

BRONX (WABC) -- Police are trying to track down a suspect who sucker punched an elderly man in the Bronx, knocking him to the ground.

It was a random and senseless attack that left 88-year-old German Ventura with bruises covering nearly half his face.

"I was hit in the face, and that knocked me down. I fell on my arm, now I have a large bruise," Ventura said.

Ventura says he had just left the pharmacy Monday afternoon, picking up medicine for his bed ridden wife, when out of nowhere a stranger sucker punched him and took off near Briggs Avenue and East 196th Street.

"(He hit me) Two times, but I knocked him down after he punched me," Ventura said. "I got up from the floor, I got up and knocked him down, but he escaped."

Ventura's arm was badly bruised in the ambush, but the fearless Bronx native didn't back down.

"When he hit me I got up and I chased him. I got him in a stronghold and knocked him down," Ventura said. "The kids were there on the street, with the kids there I really couldn't move, then the police came."

With the confrontation captured on surveillance cameras near a school, police are now asking for the public's help identifying this suspect.

In the meantime, Ventura says he's going to continue living his life as he's already done for eight decades.

"No, no, no, I 'm never scared, "Ventura said. "If I see him we'll fight, don't worry. I'm 88 years old, but I have energy."