MISSOULA — Police in Missoula are searching for a man suspected of assaulting a former Wall Street Journal and Missoulian reporter, likely costing the 70-year-old man the sight in his left eye.
Les Gapay told the Missoulian he was assaulted Sunday in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart, where he was staying in his pickup for the night.
Gapay said as he was leaving the store he was approached by two intoxicated men who wanted to shake hands with him. He said he didn’t want to, and then one of the men punched him in the chest and hit him at least two more times. He said a third man “came out of nowhere,” took his cellphone and hit him in the eye at least five times.
Gapay underwent surgery on his eye Monday and said the surgeon told him he has about a 5 percent chance of seeing out of that eye again.
The first two men were arrested and face misdemeanor charges.
Officers have a warrant to arrest Sean Marceau, 30, on suspicion of felony aggravated assault. Sgt. Kim Klawitter said Marceau may have fled to Spokane, Washington.
Gapay, who said he gave up his low-income housing in California to move to Montana, said he plans to stay in Missoula and will camp and live in his truck until he can get into low-income housing.