Elderly Man with Brain Tumor Brutally Beaten While Walking Dog

Jeff Zimmerman was taking his dog for an evening walk through his Phoenix neighborhood on December 13 when, without warning, a man on a bicycle rode up and began beating him. According to police, Zimmerman was thrown to the ground and struck repeatedly before two strangers intervened and pulled the attacker away.

“It’s a miracle they were there,” his daughter Kiera told local outlet AZFamily. “Right place, right time — literally an act of God. He’s alive because of those two people.”

Zimmerman suffered severe head injuries, broken bones, and a damaged eye. He was rushed to the hospital and spent four days in intensive care.

Zimmerman has spent the last 16 years living with a brain tumor. His daughter described him as a “fighter” who has survived multiple surgeries and endless treatments.

“My very first memory is in the hospital with him,” Kiera said. “He’s the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

She added that the attack has made some of his preexisting symptoms worse, including chronic headaches and balance issues.

Phoenix Police say charges have been filed, though the suspect’s name has not yet been released. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack, which appears to be random.

Zimmerman’s family estimates his medical expenses could exceed $200,000, factoring in both his long-term brain tumor care and the new injuries from the beating. A GoFundMe campaign launched by his daughter has already raised over $30,000 toward that goal.

“Despite everything — the pain, the surgeries, the trauma — he’s still the funniest, craziest, most spirited soul alive,” Kiera wrote on the fundraiser page. “He lights up every room he enters.”

Neighbors have begun leaving notes and small gifts at Zimmerman’s home. “It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also incredible to see people care,” said one local resident who helped organize a neighborhood safety patrol after the attack.

Kiera says she’s choosing gratitude over anger. “I can’t even be upset,” she said. “I’m just thankful he’s still here.”

SOURCE: AZFamily / GoFundMe / Local Police Reports