Senior Citizen Randomly Attacked in Front of W. High Street Home

A 65-year-old Phoenixville man suffered head injuries over the weekend when a stranger attacked him, unprovoked, in front of his West High Street home, are reporting.

James Mitchell Marder, a 41-year-old Ridge Avenue resident, was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, harassment, disorderly conduct, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

According to court documents, on August 4 at approximately 2 p.m., the 65-year-old victim was standing in front of his residence on the 100 block of West High Street, enjoying a cigarette, when a red Chevy Camaro pulled up. The driver, later identified as Marder, allegedly, and inexplicably, sprinted out of the car and began punching the senior citizen in the face while screaming “I’m going to kill you.” Witnesses told police they attempted to stop the attack, but “he just continued punching.”

The victim, who suffered numerous facial injuries—including profound swelling over his left eye and forehead—told police he was struck at least a dozen times before Marder got back into his car and fled the scene.

According to police, further investigation revealed that there was no relationship between the victim and his attacker. “This was a random and unprovoked attack against the victim,” reads the affidavit of probable cause.

Marder was arrested and arraigned on August 4. Unable to post bail, he is being held in Chester County Prison. He faces preliminary hearing on August 9.