Suspect accused of throwing battery acid on man told him to 'get out of this country,' police say

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Warning: This story contains graphic content and images.

Milwaukee police said they have arrested a man who is suspected of throwing battery acid at another man, causing second-degree burns.

The 61-year-old suspect is accused of aggravated battery.

According to the Milwaukee Police Department, the attack happened around 8:25 p.m. Friday on S. 13th St. between Cleveland and Harrison avenues.

WISN-TV spoke to Mahud Villalaz, 42, who said he and the suspect got into an argument about how Villalaz had parked his truck.

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"Because I was parked wrong. I'm going to my truck, and I move it half a block there. Then I get out to go to the restaurant, and the guy's still there with a bottle in his hands," Villalaz said.

Villalaz said his attacker called him an "illegal."

"I think I pissed him off because I told him, 'This is my country. This isn’t your country. Everybody came from somewhere else here,'" Villalaz said.

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The argument escalated, police said, and the suspect threw what officers believe was battery acid on Villalaz.

"The feeling was burning, and I tried to defend myself, but I couldn’t because I couldn't open my eyes," Villalaz said.

He said he believes the attack was racially motivated.

"I believe (I) am a victim of a hate crime because (of) how he approached me telling me to 'get out this country,'" Villalaz said.

Villalaz described the suspect as a white man.

"Thank God he didn’t have a gun and shoot me," Villalaz said.

Milwaukee Alderman Jose Perez issued a statement Saturday, saying in part: "This was senseless violence and it needs to stop. We as a community need to come together to work through our differences and learn to respect one another and diffuse conflict."

During a news conference Saturday afternoon, Darryl Morin, of Forward Latino, urged people to come together and support Villalaz and his family, not retaliate.

Police have not released the suspect's name.

No other details have yet been released.

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