Authorities in southern New Jersey are searching for a McDonald's employee who was caught on video Tuesday beating a young mother in front of her toddler, while he tried to intervene, NBC News reported.
A 54-second long video of the attack, recorded by bystanders, shows 25-year-old Latia Harris briefly exchanging words with the victim in a grassy area in Salem City, New Jersey. Moments later, she throws the young mother to the ground, sits on top of her and starts punching her face and chest.
The suspect is then heard threatening to attack the victim's 2-year-old son, who tries kicking the attacker several times in order to stop her from landing another blow. "You better get your son before I kick him in the [expletive] face too," she screams.
The fast food worker then shouts at the woman about an issue she had at her job. "It's not over... you almost made me lose my job," the attacker says before spitting on her and walking away.
"The suspect allegedly accused the woman of spreading rumors about her and her restaurant manager. The beating took place in a field next to the Salem City McDonald's along East Broadway, police said," according to NBC News. "A manager at the Salem City McDonald's said she could not comment on the matter."
Salem City Police Chief John Pelura III said his department learned of the incident shortly after it happened on Tuesday. Officers were called to victim's home at a nearby apartment complex, where they found her badly bloodied. She was immediately taken to a hospital.
Police Chief John Pelura III told The South Jersey Times that the video is "sickening to watch," adding that he's disgusted by the bystanders' actions. "There is a moral and social breakdown in the fabric of our society, which is clearly evident when a woman gets pummeled in broad daylight in front of her child while a dozen people pull out their phones to record the incident instead of calling for help," he said in a statement. "There is so little regard for human life - by the actor and the bystanders."
Harris, who is not yet in police custody, has been charged with aggravated assault and two counts of making terroristic threats.
