SAN JOSE — Police arrested a San Jose man Thursday in connection with a brutal beating at Westfield Valley Fair mall that left a 17-year-old boy fighting for his life.

Troung Son Huynh, 25, was arrested at his home and booked into jail on suspicion of felony battery, according to San Jose police.

Shortly after 8 p.m. on March 11, San Jose police responded to a call about a man who had been knocked unconscious in the parking lot at Valley Fair mall. Two individuals had reportedly been following 17-year-old Milpitas resident Christian Rasner through the mall.

When officers arrived, they found Rasner suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding and a skull fracture. The teen was transported to a hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma so he could recover from his injuries.

The ﻿two people following Rasner and a friend asked about Rasner’s gang affiliation — he is not a gang member, according to police. Police say Huynh punched the teen, knocking him backward and causing serious injuries. The pair fled before police arrived.

Police did give any information about the second suspect. Despite the reported facts in the wake of the attack, a follow-up investigation by the SJPD Gang Investigations Unit determined it was not gang motivated.

Rasner’s father, Greg Rasner, the arrest brings some peace of mind and is the first “real piece of justice.” He said there would be no more “looking over the shoulder” and that he and his wife can concentrate on Rasner’s healing process.

The teen woke up for the first time on Wednesday, Greg Rasner said. His son is still in the ICU, he said, but he is stable.

“He’s waking up from his brain being turned off,” Greg Rasner said. “His whole brain is rebooting. He’s not quite there yet.”

The process for Rasner’s recovery will be slow, but the teen’s father said responses to his parents’ voices and following commands to squeeze someone’s hands are very encouraging signs.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Detective Jeff Harwell at 408-277-3835. Those wishing to remain anonymous can either call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 408-947-STOP (7867), or click the “Submit a Tip” link at www.sjpd.org.

Contact Katie Nelson at 408-920-5006 and follow her at Twitter.com/katienelson210.