Redmond's Victim Says O'Neal 'Exploded In Anger,' Left Him Bloodied In Jail Fight
Aug. 6 2018, Updated 11:49 a.m. ET
The victim who was allegedly attacked in jail almost four months ago by Redmond O'Neal said he was sucker-punched by the troubled son of Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett, RadarOnline.com can exclusively report.
The alleged victim, a jail medical professional who spoke to RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview, claimed he suffered soreness and a black eye from the April 20, 2018 attack, and has since been afraid to work in that part of the facility.
O'Neal, 33, is already facing more than 20 years in state prison for a week-long crime spree in May 2018 when he allegedly brandished a knife and robbed a convenience store in Santa Monica. Prosecutors also said he allegedly attacked at least four individuals, including a man who was stabbed in the head.
But even before that alleged crime spree in May, O'Neal was already in jail, where he allegedly attacked someone who is not an inmate or a deputy. Prosecutors recently charged O'Neal with one count of felony battery in a separate case related to that April 20 jail attack.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials confirmed to RadarOnline.com that the victim is a medical professional who was working at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles.
The alleged victim, who did not want to be named, said O'Neal was calling for help from his jail cell on the day of the incident.
The healthcare worker said the troubled stwas in his cell when he complained about pain in his chest.
"One patient complained of heart pain, so I wanted to ask him what was the problem," the man told RadarOnline.com. "He kept on saying, 'I need to see the doctor right now! I'm hurting!'"
The man said O'Neal remained in the cell, but he tried to communicate with him through a 10-by-30 inch window on the cell door.
"I wanted to ask him what was the problem, so I put my face near the window because I could not hear him," he said. "Suddenly, he just exploded in anger. I never expected anything like that. It happened so suddenly! He pushed his fist out the window and he hit my left eye. He just suddenly punched me."
The healthcare professional said he was taken aback, lost his balance, and fell to the floor. A deputy who was nearby assisted him quickly, the man said.
"The deputy was right there, but I was in shock," he said.
The alleged victim said he suffered bruises and a black eye from the incident.
"I was very worried about the inmate because I thought he really had a big problem, so I wanted to first ask him questions to find out what was happening to him," he said. "I did not expect that to happen. Most inmates are nice when we help them, but this patient was very different."
The medical professional said Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials have since transferred him to work in another part of the jail for his safety.
O'Neal was arrested on Feb. 13, 2018 before the jail attack occurred.
He was subsequently released on May 1, 2018, but the next day, authorities allege O'Neal went on a violent crime spree in the areas of Venice, Palms and Santa Monica before he was arrested on May 8, 2018.
One of the alleged victims, aspiring actor Anton Folkerson, filed a civil suit against O'Neal on Jun 26, 2018 for personal injuries based upon negligence/assault and battery.
In that complaint, Folkerson claims he sustained serious injuries during the May 2018 attack, including shock and injury to his nervous system.
In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, a family friend said Folkerson spent two days in a coma after O'Neal allegedly slit Folkerson's throat and plunged a knife three-and-a-half inches into his brain.
In an amended criminal complaint related to the May crime spree, prosecutors charged O'Neal with one count of attempted murder, one count of second-degree robbery and making criminal threats, and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with a knife, a broken glass bottle and a stabbing device.
O'Neal was also charged with six misdemeanor counts, including possession of a smoking device, possession of injection and ingestion device, battery and exhibiting a deadly weapon and two counts of possessing methamphetamine.
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He faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison if convicted of all of the charges related to that crime spree.
Meanwhile, the recent jail battery charge also could land O'Neal more prison time. His private attorney in the attempted murder case has asked the court to consider whether O'Neal is mentally competent to stand trial.
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