FORT MYERS, Fla. — A teenage barista who was brutally attacked by a group of women last week is now out of the hospital and recovering at home.
The 19-year-old victim, who does not want to be identified out of fear, was rushed to the hospital after the attack on October 6. She was working at the Dunkin’ Donuts on College Parkway near Whiskey Creek Drive when the women came into the store around 1 p.m.
According to the victim’s mother, the women were relatives of a disgruntled ex-employee who came into the store to settle their beef with Dunkin’.
“The attack was originally provoked through the disgruntled employee and another employee,” said the mother. “My daughter just simply asked them to take it outside, not to have the issue inside the restaurant. Then she was attacked.”
In a video recorded by another employee at the store, you can see one of the three women jump over the counter, starting their assault on the barista that lasted for more than two minutes. The entire encounter was captured on video.
“The first time I seen it, I just broke down,” the mom said. “It’s just heartbreaking, just absolutely heartbreaking. To hear the screams and to see what she had endured, like I said, it’s indescribable. It’s a feeling that no parent ever wants to have to feel.”
After kicking, punching and beating her daughter, they walked out of the store, leaving her with injuries so severe she was rushed to the hospital.
Following the attack, Lee County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested two of the three women seen in the video. Cassie Smith, 19, and Janiya Wingate, 19, were both arrested and charged with battery.
“It’s saddening. Absolutely, it’s disgusting,” the victim’s mother told ABC7.
According to the mother, the victim doesn’t even know the worker who has an issue with Dunkin’ Donuts. She said her daughter just showed up to work on Friday to fill in a shift at a location she’s only worked at once before.
“She’s been with Dunkin’ a little over a year now. She’s one of my favorite employees. They ask for her at multiple locations because everybody just loves her and her personality. She’s a dedicated, hard worker. So, you know, she was asked to fill in at this location,” she said.
Dunkin’ Donuts told ABC7 they’re aware of the incident and are working with the sheriff’s office as they investigate.
“We are aware of the incident that took place at our franchised location in Fort Myers. The franchisee is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation. Due to this being an active investigation, we defer any further comment to the local police department,” said a Dunkin’ spokesperson in a statement.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also said they’re continuing their investigation as the third suspect has yet to be charged.
In the meantime, the victim has been released from the hospital and is now at home resting. However, as the cliché says, she’s not out of the woods just yet.
“She has been released from the hospital. She is recovering. Obviously, she has a long road of recovery ahead of her. She definitely just didn’t deserve this,” said the mother.
The one thing this mother wants everyone to take away from this: pick up the phone and call 911 as soon as something happens. If that were the case, her daughter might be serving up coffee instead of being laid up in bed.