Machete-weilding Teens Hacked Bike, Filmed Attack: Victim View Full Caption

HUMBOLDT PARK — The two teens appeared from a nearby alley, one wielding a camera phone, the other wielding a machete, according to the victim of a bizarre early morning attack Saturday.

As he biked down the 2500 block of West Potomac Avenue, the 30-year-old Humboldt Park resident said the "mischievous" teens appeared to crouch and then sprint from the alley, coming directly at him.

“I noticed right away that one had a machete … and that’s when I noticed the other guy was filming it with his phone,” the man said in an interview Wednesday with DNAinfo Chicago.

The alleged attacker then hacked at the victim's bike with the machete, slashing the back tire so hard it shattered his fender and left several half-inch cuts in the rim, he said. Moments later, the victim was punched and then told to "get the f--- out of here," he said.

The guy with the camera was laughing. “At that point I knew that I probably wasn’t going to get murdered.”

“I don’t know if terrorize is the right word but they were out there to mess with people,” he said Wednesday.

Police have classified the case as a simple battery. A report filed with the Shakespeare District said the victim was approached by a suspect wielding a “cutting instrument,” then punched and told to leave at 3:05 a.m.

“When I saw the machete I really thought it was a joke,” said the victim, who asked not to be named. “I think I even said, ‘Oh my god, you’ve really got a machete’ and I kinda laughed because it was shocking.”

He added: “He hit my bike [with the machete] and within seconds he came closer to me and I just felt the punch. I had no thoughts at that point.”

The entire incident lasted less than a couple minutes.

In an attempt to find out information about what happened, the victim wrote about his experience on Reddit Tuesday.

He appealed to the users of the social network to see if the video had surfaced anywhere.

“I know these kids are dumb but I don't know if they are dumb enough to actually post the video online somewhere,” wrote the victim, a five-year Reddit member who goes by "condirice" online.

In his post he said the two appeared to be African-American teens. The one with the machete was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and a black baseball cap.

The attack appeared to be a violent prank, he said. Aside from a bruised face and a damaged bike, he said “it could have been worse” — the experience hasn't changed his view of the neighborhood, he added.

“It’d be naive to be shocked that something like this happened. It can happen anywhere,” he said. “I know my area isn’t the best, but I’ve lived here for several years and never had any trouble. I’ve seen some questionable stuff happen, but overall I don’t feel swayed to make and lifestyle changes.”