On November 15, Vincent Mannino of Winston-Salem was assaulted and critically injured while playing Pokemon GO. Mannino took a walk after dinner to play when the attack happened. The assailant took his phone but left his backpack and wallet.
Since then, Mannino has spent all his time recovering in the hospital. Among other injuries, doctors found bleeding in his brain. His recuperation is slow, and doctors aren’t sure that he will ever get back to where he was before the attack. He will remain under 24/7 care for the foreseeable future.
The footage above shows Mannino and an unknown person walking the streets of Winston-Salem alone. As of now, police are still searching for information about the attacker. However, the community is more focused on Mannino’s recovery.
Since the attack, Pokemon GO players have sponsored several walks in his honor. On Sunday, the Winston-Salem community is holding an event to light up Trade Street with lures. There will be a silent auction to raise funds for Mannino’s care.
If you’re interested in helping out Mannino and his family, you can donate on this Go Fund Me page.