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Police: UGA students randomly attacked in Downtown Athens on first day back at school

The students were walking home around 2 a.m. their first day back on campus. They saw a couple on the sidewalk and when they walked past them, that's when things got violent.

Two University of Georgia student were attacked in downtown Athens their first day back.

Authorities say the young men were brutally beaten and sent to the hospital, left with bruises and stitches. Police say their attacker is still out there.

Athens-Clarke Police released body camera footage of officers interview the victims.

The students were walking home around 2 a.m. their first day back on campus. They saw a couple on the sidewalk and when they walked past them, that's when things got violent.

"The next thing I know, I'm on the ground, punched, kicked. And then I got out of there," one victim said to police.

In the hospital, they told police it came out of nowhere. They described the suspect as a chubby blonde man in his 30s, who was maybe 5'6" or 5'7" in height.

"It wasn't hostile at all, but the next thing I know, I got punched," a victim said.

"This is just a random act of violence," said Geoffrey Gilland of Athens Clarke Police. "The downtown area is typically pretty safe, but this was completely unprovoked."

After the attack, students used their cell phones to call for a ride to the hospital. Police say they did everything right.

"They were walking in a group, we always tell students to travel in groups. And to have a cell phone, so they can call police if something does happen," Gilland said.

Authorities are going through security footage to see if they can find out who did this to the students.

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