A video of a vicious beating at a Baltimore County McDonald’s restaurant went viral Friday, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on various websites and prompting the fast food giant to issue a statement condemning the incident. The video was apparently first posted to YouTube, then taken down by administrators who said it violated the site’s policies. But it sprung back up on various sites and was ultimately linked from the popular Drudge Report, which gave it top billing for much of the day. By mid-afternoon, the video had received 450,000 views on one site alone.
The attack occurred April 18 in the 6300 block of Kenwood Ave., in Rosedale, county police said. Police said a 14-year-old girl had been charged as a juvenile, while charges were pending against an 18-year-old woman. Police said the incident “remains under investigation and the state’s attorney’s office is reviewing the case.” Police said the victim was a 22-year-old woman and said an update on her condition was not immediately available. As the video spread, McDonald’s first acknowledged that it had occurred in a Baltimore restaurant and said they were working with local police.
“We are shocked by the video from a Baltimore franchised restaurant showing an assault. This incident is unacceptable, disturbing and troubling,” the company said in a statement posted on its website. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and employees in our restaurants. We are working with the franchisee and the local authorities to investigate this matter.” A Baltimore County police official said the agency was working to gather information on the incident. McDonald’s did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
The video begins with two women – who are black – near a bathroom door kicking and hitting a white woman who is lying on the ground. The racial dynamics of the attack drove much of the commentary on the sites that posted the video. But many expressed shock at the sheer brutality. An employee repeatedly tries to separate them, but the attackers continue to stomp and kick the victim’s head. People yell, “Stop! Stop!” to no avail. An older woman at one point also attempts to pull the attackers away, and is shoved.
About halfway through the three minute clip, the attackers rip a wig off the victim and drag her by her hair to the front door. The camera gets jerky, but one of the woman can be seen landing a punishing blow to the victim’s head as she sits on the floor, and the victim then appears to go into a seizure. Throughout the attack, a man is filming and does not intervene. But when the victim appears to go into a seizure, he yells, “She having a seizure, yo. … Police on their way. Y’all better get out of here.”
Further information about the attack was not immediately available from police. Check back for updates.
justin.fenton [at] baltsun.com
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