His face is covered with wounds, his nose is broken and swollen, the areas around his eyes are red and violet. Under his right cheekbone, a bruise stretches from his nose across his cheek. This is a 36-year-old father who was brutally beaten after pointing out to neighbors that grilling is prohibited in the courtyard of the residential building where they live.

Last Sunday afternoon, Steven was assaulted so severely in the backyard of his Berlin apartment building that he had to be taken to the hospital. The unbelievable reason: he had simply pointed out to his neighbors that the grilling ban applied to all residents of the building.

According to B.Z., the man sustained severe facial injuries: multiple wounds, a broken and swollen nose, red and bruised eyes, and a blood-filled hematoma under his right cheekbone. He is a new father to a three-month-old daughter.

“Romanian Family”

The background was that several tenants had previously been disturbed by the fact that the same people were grilling in the courtyard, even though it was forbidden according to house rules. On Sunday morning, some tenants had already started setting out tables and chairs in the courtyard as early as eight o’clock. Steven then went down and told one of them, who according to the article belongs to a “Romanian” family, that grilling was not allowed. The man first took the items back inside, but around three hours later began setting out tables and chairs again.

Steven reacted in particular because the smoke was drifting straight into the children’s room, preventing his family from opening the window. He therefore went down again and talked to the man. Again, the items were removed, but later, between 1 and 2 p.m., everything started all over again for a third time. When the man was once again about to grill, Steven K. told him there was nothing more to discuss and that he would call the police.

According to the article, the police said they would come to the building and talk to the defiant tenant. At the same time, they advised Steven to return to his apartment, allegedly for his own safety.

Aggravated Assault

Shortly afterwards, Steven and the other tenant walked towards the front of the building. The tenant then reportedly threatened him, saying his family would soon arrive. Soon after, an Opel Corsa arrived and a man jumped out of the car, followed by a woman and a child. The man approached Steven, and the two Romanian men—who, according to the article, were apparently related—began speaking to him in increasingly harsher tones.

Without warning, one of the men allegedly took out pepper spray and sprayed Steven directly in the face. Both men then began beating him with their fists. He fell to the ground from the swift and brutal blows, but the assault continued. They are also said to have kicked him in the head and body. Other tenants finally managed to drive the attackers from the scene.

Steven was taken to the hospital. In addition to multiple bruises and injuries, he had a dislocated shoulder and suspected tendon damage. Surgery may be necessary.

Two days after the attack, he told B.Z. that he never imagined people could become so malicious and brutal over such a trivial matter. According to B.Z.’s information, the perpetrators are known by name, but have not yet been apprehended.

Online, one person comments that this is a new situation many live with in today’s Germany:

I live where it happened, grew up on Lincolnstr, it used to be a fantastic neighborhood! That family is known to everyone there, even the police!!! Much worse is that the majority in Lichtenberg really voted ‘left.’ Most people apparently want it this way!