Homeless man dies after being punched, kicked in head near traffic accident

A homeless man and sometime helper at Enchiladas Ole’ died Monday morning after he was punched and kicked in the head over the weekend as he stood near a traffic accident, the restaurant owner said.

Police continued their search Monday for the suspect, who left the scene after attacking Mark Hague, a fixture on North Sylvania Avenue for years.

Hague died at John Peter Smith Hospital, said Mary Perez, owner of Enchiladas Ole’ and a friend of his.

Perez said she has known Hague for about three years and that he was homeless and struggled with alcohol. At times, he cleaned around the restaurant at 901 N. Sylvania Ave., she said in a telephone interview Monday.

She said she and her staff tried to give him a little responsibility and added that he loved having his photo taken and listening to the music there.

“We just love him,” she said in an earlier phone interview, “and the other homeless people who stay around this neighborhood.”

On Saturday evening Hague, Perez, her employees and customers were in the restaurant when two vehicles collided at North Sylvania Avenue and Dell Street at about 7:30 p.m.

“We all went out to see what had happened,” Perez said. “My stepson and son got there in time to pull a woman out before first responders arrived.”

Hague stood near the accident and then stepped in front of a woman who cursed him, Perez said. Hague cursed back.

Within seconds, a man walked up to Hague and punched him. As he was lying on the ground, the man kicked him in the head and then left, Perez said.

Paramedics arrived and treated Hague, then took him to John Peter Smith hospital where he died Monday.

Perez handed over photos to police that she took at the scene in hopes of providing detectives leads to the suspect.

Police did not provide further details.

Perez said Hague had been homeless for years, and was never a problem for her. Last winter, the owner of Enchiladas Ole’ bought seven tents for her homeless neighbors and gave one to Hague.

At Enchiladas Ole’, it’s been the custom for the homeless, cancer patients and police to eat free.

Perez said Hague had a brother who lives in Tarrant County and offered to let Hague stay at his house, but the homeless man declined. Hague’s brother could not be reached Monday.

Perez said the man who assaulted Hague was about 6 feet tall and weighed about 225 pounds. She said Hague is about 110 pounds.

“I think sometimes people pick on the homeless because they are small,” she said. “He (Mark) was just someone who we gave a meal to from time to time.”

This story was originally published October 8, 2018 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Homeless man dies after being punched, kicked in head near traffic accident."