Violent assault uploaded to YouTube

Published 12:09 am Wednesday, September 2, 2015

LAPLACE — An investigation into a LaPlace fast food worker’s assault took a public turn this week with the release of a video documenting the violent attack, authorities said.

A video posted to YouTube Sunday shows a young girl pulled from an Airline Highway McDonald’s drive-through window.

Authorities previously said a 16-year-old female was working the drive-through window Aug. 26 when a car pulled up to the location.

The uploaded video appears to be made by someone in that car.

In the video, the victim is heard taking an order from a customer who is not pictured when the attacker’s car arrives.

The attacker is seen standing on the vehicle frame to reach eye level with the fast food employee. After some words are exchanged, the fast food worker appears to be pulled out of the restaurant through the drive-through window by her hair.

As the victim is pulled down, it appears she breaks the window of the attacker’s car with her leg. In the background, viewers can hear screaming and what sounds like someone crying as the camera pans away from the attack.

Authorities said an assault occurred in the parking lot, but it is not captured on the video.

“Detectives are viewing the video and other videos collected during the investigation to identify individuals who participated in the incident,” St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said.

“With the videos and witness accounts of the incident, detectives will arrest everyone who participated in the attack of the female juvenile.”

According to authorities, the victim has named some of the people involved in her attack; however, no arrests have been made as of press time Tuesday morning.

Tregre said several other female subjects accompanied the assailant and punched the victim, as well.

“The perpetrators fled in the car,” he said.

Medical personnel evaluated the victim at the scene, and she refused treatment, authorities said.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker