Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe found himself on the receiving end of a violent altercation Tuesday when he was punched while leaving a lunchtime speaking engagement at the Lone Tree Golf Course and Event Center.
“I can confirm that the reports of my being punched at an event today are true,” Thorpe said in a statement released by the city. “After giving a speech at a luncheon hosted by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, I was aggressively approached by an older white male in his late 50’s. When it became clear that he was seeking a confrontation, I asked him to leave.
“Violence has absolutely no place in the public discourse and will never be tolerated.”
Mayor Lamar Thorpe
“As I attempted to walk away, the man punched me in the chest and was attempting to punch me a second time, but was not able to land his blow, as bystanders intervened to help me. Although shaken up, I am doing well.”
There was no word on the man’s identity late Tuesday or if police caught up with him. It was unknown if the contents of the mayor’s speech may have instigated the attack.
“Violence has absolutely no place in the public discourse and will never be tolerated,” Thorpe said. “My hope is that this individual is arrested and prosecuted. I would like to thank the bystanders who intervened for putting their own safety at risk to help me. I will never forget their kindness and support.”
Thorpe said he would be at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, where the council was scheduled to vote on a contract to establish a non-police crisis response team, the first of its kind in Contra Costa County.