Video: Woman Violently Beaten As Toddler Tries To Intervene
SALEM, N.J. (CBS) -- A fast-food worker in full uniform viciously attacked a young mother in front of the victim's two-year-old son and the entire attack was caught on tape.
On Monday, the suspect turned herself into police.
The attack happened Tuesday in the city of Salem, New Jersey and video of the assault was later posted on Facebook.
The suspect has been identified by the Salem City Police Department as 25-year-old Latia Harris. When apprehended, Salem City Police Chief John Pelura, III says Harris faces charges of aggravated assault and two counts of terroristic threats.
MUST READ: Hoarders Stabbed Inside Trash-Filled Home
In the video, a woman wearing a McDonald's uniform is shown attacking another woman.
The victim, identified as 27-year-old Catherine Ferreira, falls to the ground and while on the ground, the suspect punches the victim approximately 20 times.
As the attack is going on, the victim's toddler son is seen pleading for the suspect to stop and tries to kick the suspect in an attempt to make her stop.
At one point during the video, the suspect can be heard saying: "You better get your son before I kick him in the face too!"
"I could have been dead right now, had she hit me in the right spot it would have been over, over nothing. McDonald's isn't worth it, a guy isn't worth it. This is more serious than you're even comprehending," says Catherine Ferreira.
READ: Philly Cop Charged With Fighting With Teens
On her two-year-old son fighting Harris and being the only one to try to intervene she says "After that I became so much closer to my son because he didn't care what was going on. He wasn't afraid, he just wanted to defend his mom. That's my world right there, I love that boy so much."
At the end of the video, the suspect appears to spit on the victim as she lays helplessly on the ground.
Adding to the shock factor of the video is that several bystanders do not intervene and instead take out their cell phones and record the attack.
Police say as Harris walked away, she asked those recording to not post the video on social media.
READ: Boy, 12, Arrested In Knifepoint Robbery Of Cell Phone
Police were able to obtain a video of the attack off of Facebook before it was deleted.
Harris was employed at a nearby McDonald's and has not reported to work since the assault.
The victim told police that Harris accused her of spreading rumors about her and her manager at McDonald's.
McDonald's owner Jim Burglaga released the following statement regarding the incident: "I am aware of the incident involving one of my employees earlier this week. I am extremely disturbed by this kind of behavior and it goes against the values and standards that I expect from my employees in my restaurants. This employee will not be serving customers pending this important police investigation and I'm fully cooperating with the local police in this matter."
Anyone with information on the location of Harris is asked to call Salem Police at 856-935-0057.
Must Read Today's Top Talkers:
