Man charged in Denver mall pipe attack claims self-defense

A homeless man who was captured on video attacking people with a pipe in broad daylight on the 16th St. Mall in Denver says he came to Colorado to use medical marijuana to treat his schizophrenia.

Clarence Seeley, of Indiana, told KMGH-TV that he had only been in Denver for about a week before the June 29 attack that was caught on video and posted to Facebook, where it has since been watched more than 3 million times. He is charged with aggravated assault in connection to the incident.

Seeley says he was reacting to someone with a knife. No other weapons are seen on the video and no other arrests were made.

Video of the attack has become a rallying point for those calling for the city to clean up the 16th St. Mall.