'I think this was an attack on a person because he was homeless'
EUGENE, Ore.– James Lemmon remains in the hospital Monday, less than two days after he says someone attacked him from behind on a downtown Eugene sidewalk and lit him on fire.
Lemmon was burned on his head, neck, left arm and hands.
If it wasn’t for his heavy coat, the burns would have been worse, he said.
“I would have been cooked like a turkey if I hadn’t been wearing that heavy coat,” Lemmon said.
He doesn’t remember much about the attack but thinks his attacker used an expletive and called him a “bum.” He said he didn’t get a look at his attacker.
Lemmon, who is homeless, thinks that was a motivating factor behind the attack.
“I definitely do,” he said. “I think this was an attack on a person because he was homeless.”
Eugene police investigators said the attack happened at 3 o’clock Saturday morning near the corner of east Broadway and High.
Lemmon said he is not sure if the attacker threw any flammable material on him. His clothes have been sent to the state crime lab for testing.
Police spokeswoman Jenna LaBounty said detectives do not have any witnesses. She is asking anyone who saw something to come forward.
The brutal attack has shaken top leaders in Eugene.
Mayor Kitty Piercy says she has turned to leaders outside the city to help focus more resources on keeping downtown safe.
“I’ve been working with the district attorney on that. He’s been putting together a group of people to look across jurisdictions at how we can do things more effectively,” Piercy said Monday.
She also released a statement after the attack calling the crime “horrible” and “disturbing.” She added, “I am deeply concerned that the victim of this crime is once again a member of our community who is homeless.”
Police Chief Pete Kerns also said Monday he is forming a task force to address downtown safety issues. It will include representatives from city departments, business owners and residents.
“We are trying to accomplish quite a bit, even though the deck is sort of stacked against us right now,” Kerns said. “Any solution we come up with to crime in the downtown area is going to have to be pretty innovative.”
Kerns hopes to have the task force assembled within two weeks. Still, he admits his department faces an uphill battle.
“We will look at whether or not we can add more officers down there. More likely than not we won’t be able to because we don’t have the officers to spare,” Kerns said.
This latest attack comes after three deadly attacks against homeless people since May.
In August, homeless man James Pelfrey was stabbed and died near the Washington/Jefferson Street Park in Downtown Eugene. In September, Lloyd Austin was arrested for the murder.
Gerald Wudarski died from injuries in a June fight. He was homeless and got in a fight while looking for cans. A grand jury indicted Corey Freeman on manslaughter and assault charges in the death.
On May 11, the body of Herbert “Pac-Man” Bishop was found in Skinner Butte Park. Two men, Michael Baughman and Ryan Casch, face murder charges.
