A routine day of working around the house took a frightening turn for a 63-year-old Aurora homeowner when a stranger allegedly entered his garage and began punching him without warning.
Tom Ruszkowski said he was working outside his home on October 18 when a man approached him from behind and launched the attack. The assault left him with facial injuries requiring staples and stitches, a lost tooth and a shoulder injury.
Authorities identified the suspect as 33-year-old Kendan Lubovich, who is being held at the Arapahoe County Jail without bond in connection with the incident.
According to the account provided by Ruszkowski, there was no argument or exchange of words before the violence began. He described being caught completely off guard while working at his own home.
The case has drawn additional attention because Lubovich reportedly had three other pending assault cases in different Colorado counties, all of which were on hold while officials worked to determine whether he was mentally competent to stand trial.
Homeowner Says the Attack Came Without Warning
Ruszkowski recalled working around his property when he suddenly felt a punch land on the back of his head.
“The next thing I know, boom, I got punched right in the back of the head,” he said.
He told investigators about the suddenness of the encounter, describing how the attacker allegedly continued striking him after he fell to the garage floor.
“He jumped on me and just continued to pummel me the whole time I was on the ground in the garage,” Ruszkowski said.
One detail stood out to him: the alleged attacker never said anything.
When asked whether the man had spoken to him before or during the assault, Ruszkowski replied, “Not one word.”
The absence of any conversation left the homeowner with no clear explanation for why he had been targeted.
Family Members Rushed to Help
The situation became even more alarming inside the home as Ruszkowski’s family realized something was wrong.
His daughter, Amanda McClain, said she was awakened by the sound of her children screaming. They were shouting that someone was hitting their grandfather.
McClain rushed to help her father, while Ruszkowski’s wife also ran toward the garage.
According to McClain, she tried to stop the assault by using a Swiffer and a baseball bat against the attacker.
The suspect eventually left the scene, but the incident did not end there. Police located Lubovich at a neighbor’s house and arrested him.
The family’s quick response brought additional people into an already dangerous situation. For Ruszkowski’s relatives, the experience was especially distressing because the violence unfolded at their own home, a place where they would ordinarily expect to feel safe.
Injuries Required Medical Treatment
Images of Ruszkowski after the incident showed visible injuries to his face.
He said the attack left him needing staples and sutures to treat his wounds. He also lost a tooth and suffered a shoulder injury.
Beyond the physical harm, an unexpected assault inside or around one’s home can leave victims struggling with fear and uncertainty long after the immediate incident has ended.
In this case, Ruszkowski has also been left questioning why a stranger would approach him and allegedly attack him without saying a word.
Investigators have not established a publicly confirmed motive in the information available about the case.
Three Other Assault Cases Complicate the Legal Picture
The allegations in Aurora come as Lubovich also faces three pending assault cases in other Colorado counties.
Those proceedings have reportedly been placed on hold while officials attempt to establish whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Competency proceedings are separate from determining whether someone committed an alleged crime. In general, courts assess whether a defendant can understand the legal proceedings and meaningfully assist their attorney in preparing a defense.
A competency evaluation does not, by itself, establish guilt or innocence, and a pending case is not the same as a conviction.
The status of the other cases adds another layer to the legal proceedings surrounding the Aurora attack. However, the allegations in each case must be addressed individually through the court system.
Suspect Faces Assault Charge
Lubovich was charged with assault in connection with the alleged attack on Ruszkowski and appeared in court on Wednesday, according to reports.
He remained in custody at the Arapahoe County Jail without bond. A subsequent court date was not publicly available in the initial reporting about the incident.
As the case moves forward, investigators and prosecutors will need to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and present the relevant evidence through the legal process.
The charges against Lubovich remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A Disturbing Reminder About Unexpected Violence
For Ruszkowski and his family, the incident began during an ordinary day at home and quickly became a medical and legal ordeal.
The reported circumstances also highlight how difficult it can be to anticipate an apparently unprovoked confrontation. Even a brief moment spent working in a garage or driveway can leave someone vulnerable if another person approaches unexpectedly.
For now, the central questions remain why the alleged attack occurred and what evidence will emerge as the case proceeds.
Ruszkowski has described an encounter that left him seriously injured, while his family’s account offers a glimpse of the fear and confusion experienced by those who rushed to help.
The legal proceedings will determine how the allegations are addressed, but the impact on the homeowner and his family began the moment the attack allegedly started.
