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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he is recovering from an attack earlier this month outside a Fort Lauderdale, Florida Four Seasons Hotel.
Allen was in Florida to perform at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. That performance with Def Leppard had already taken place prior to the attack.
Police arrested a 19-year-old man, but said they don’t have a motive for the attack as of yet. Allen was taking a smoke break outside the hotel at the time.
The 59-year-old said via his social media platforms that he was happy for the support received from his fans.
Police said the assailant was hiding behind a pillar outside the hotel while Allen was smoking a cigarette. The man ran at Allen, knocking him to the ground.
According to the police report, a woman saw Allen fall and ran to help him, and the man then began attacking her.
The man then ran to another hotel and started breaking car windows until he was stopped by witnesses and police arrived. He was arrested and charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult.
Allen lost his left arm in an accident in 1984.
Allen issued a statement related to the attack.
“Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space,” Allen said in the statement provided to ABC News.
“We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy,” the statement continued. “We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people. To all of the fans, veterans and first responders in our global community, we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.”
Allen went on to note that they are focused on “healing for everyone involved.”
The attack also comes as South Florida is reeling from a series of bad press involving Spring Break mayhem.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
