The mother of the 13-year-old girl assaulted by an adult woman in a Southern California McDonald’s is filing a lawsuit against both the fast-food chain and the alleged assailant.
As reported by FOX 11, the legal action is directed at both McDonald’s and Ariana Lauifi, stemming from an incident that occurred in September at the Harbor City McDonald’s.
Kassidy Jones’ mother, Angelina Gray, expressed her distress, stating, “I am heartbroken that my innocent daughter was beaten. McDonald’s staff and managers did nothing to intervene. They all stood and watched.”
Kassidy Jones had mentioned earlier that she and her schoolmates made a stop at the fast-food restaurant while heading home from school on September 6. The 13-year-old recounted that it was at this location where an unidentified woman cornered her and initiated the assault.
Kassidy remembered the woman uttering, “What the F are y’all looking at? I fight kids. I fight you.”
Videos of the altercation went viral on social media, depicting Kassidy being forcefully pulled to the ground, struck, and having her hair pulled.
In the footage, onlookers can be heard shouting and recording the episode on their mobile devices. The sole individual observed intervening on Kassidy’s behalf was a man who was accompanying the suspect.
Kassidy’s mother contacted the police and promptly took her daughter to the hospital. A post-incident photograph depicted her with swelling and bruises.
Kassidy stated that she had no prior acquaintance with the suspect, who was subsequently identified as 31-year-old Lauifi. As reported by FOX 11, Lauifi was apprehended on September 28 on suspicion of committing felony child abuse.
The owner/operator of the McDonald’s franchise, Tawnie Blade, expressed her dismay at the violent incident, stating, “We were horrified to learn about this violent attack, and our thoughts are with Kassidy and her family. Employees called police when the fight began, and we worked closely with local law enforcement to help with their investigation.”
In contrast, the family’s legal representative, Toni Jaramilla, informed FOX 11 that they believed insufficient actions were taken.
California teen's mom sues McDonald's following attack, says staff 'did nothing to intervene' https://t.co/4Wk7NnXtAM #FoxBusiness BS it’s not McDonalds duty to defend your daughter especially in Communist hell hole where they’d likely be charged if they did
— The Peon Report (@SolidRedPeon) November 5, 2023
Jaramilla said, “McDonald’s has a responsibility to ensure a clean and secure dining environment for its patrons. Kassidy’s injuries could have been averted, and she should have received assistance after the assault. This incident should never have occurred.”
