Weekend assaults may be connected
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Two men were severely beaten over the weekend - and investigators say the attacks could be connected.

It began around 11 p.m. Friday when 40-year-old Curtis Nair was knocked onto the curb along West Eighth Street and beaten by three black men who "came out of nowhere."

According to investigator Bobbie Jockel of the Waynesboro Police Department, Nair was repeatedly hit in the head with an unknown object, and his face was pushed into the curbing.

"He was beaten severely," Investigator Jockel said.

Just three hours later, 24- year-old Keith Robinson was leaving for work outside his East Seventh Street home when an unknown black man walked up and asked for a cigarette.

Before Robinson could start his car, the man grabbed him and pushed a gun into his face, the police report said.

Two accomplices rushed to the car, and all three began hitting Robinson in the face and head with their pistols.

The beating became so brutal that, at one point, two of the offenders reportedly asked the other to stop before he killed him.

The attackers stole around $65 from Robinson and finally ran away when his awakened father came out of the house screaming.

According to Jockel, the entire incident was witnessed by a friend of Robinson's who was already sitting in the car when the attack began.

While no arrests have been made, investigators say there are strong similarities between the two cases.

"These were quite possibly the same men," Investigator Jockel said.

Anyone with information about either attack is asked to call investigators at 706-554- 8029. Callers may remain anonymous.