“Violent act of crime at random”: Victim’s mother reacts to son’s attack

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - UPDATE: Roanoke Police have arrested a suspect in Monday’s attack on a teenage runner.

EARLIER STORY: Roanoke Police have released security camera photos as part of their search for a person who attacked a teen Monday.

Shortly after 10 a.m. March 24, 2025, officers were called to the 1800 block of Brandon Ave SW. Police say the initial report was that two teenagers were on a run when someone approached the runners and punched one of them in the face. Based on continued investigation and treatment of injuries, police now say, “it appears the injuries were caused by a sharp object.”

Amy Light, the mother of the victim, told WDBJ7, “The attack was unprovoked, no motive, no robbery. Simply a violent act of crime at random.”

Light says she’s shocked this would happen in their hometown.

“I just froze, ‘cause as a mother you’re like ‘‘What? Attacked running on a Monday morning in Roanoke, Virginia? On Brandon Avenue in broad daylight with a partner, you’re not alone, a male being attacked a young boy?’ No one saw anything on that busy road that morning. My mind was just going everywhere,” Light said.

Her son, whom Light says she wants to not name, is recovering.

“The plastic surgeon said he was cut with either a box cutter or could’ve been a knife,” Light said. “He had a laceration from his nose all the way to his ears. Very deep. The plastic surgeon said it took her hours to fix it. She said it was one of the worst cases she’s ever had to work on.”

Eliza Braby, the boy’s girlfriend, was running with him when it all happened. The two, who run frequently, were just out on the route they always go on when it happened.

“We saw this man running behind us and we decided to move over and let him pass,” Braby said. “I had him go behind me to let him pass. The next thing I knew, I turned around and he was on the ground holding his face. The man was running in the other direction. I just ran to the first house that I could find that had a car in front of it so I knew someone was home and they could help.”

As the investigation and search for the attacker continues, Light has faith that justice will be served.

“After they catch him, he will be off the streets and we will want to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law” Light said. “This was a senseless violent crime on a kid that’s now going to have a scar across his face for the rest of his life. It could’ve been way worse if he’d gotten a jugular, or eye and we are just so thankful that it was where it is. He will be okay.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Roanoke Police Department at (540) 344-8500.