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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) –  On the afternoon of Nov. 9, a 78-year-old woman was walking home after a shopping trip in Manhattan, oblivious to the unimaginable occurrence that was to come her way — a horrific assault.

The victim’s daughter, Rita, wanted to keep her last name and identity anonymous, afraid of retaliation by the unknown perpetrator. According to Rita, as her elderly mother walked pass the man, he then turned  around and viciously assaulted the woman, specifically punching her in the head.

Initially the victim did not want to pursue a report of the incident with the police, but later filed a report with the authorities. The victim to this gruesome act of violence now lives in constant fear.

The 78-year-old victim was walking home lugging shopping bags when she was viciously attacked in the latest apparent incident of the ‘knockout game.’

The woman who once would take her grandchildren for walks to the park and carelessly enjoy days of shopping, now lives in constant fear to the extent that she no longer venture past the front of her residence.

This is all part of a game called “knockout” that has become a sick epidemic of vicious and brutal attacks that are plaguing city streets and endangering neighborhood residents’ safety.

Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest and a conviction.