A man was recorded on video attacking a railroad crossing guard in the Philadelphia area, knocking her unconscious on Monday afternoon, right in front of elementary school students.
The incident took place shortly after 3:30 p.m. outside Walnut Street Elementary School in Derby Ward, as reported by WPVI-TV.
“Her kids go to this school. Can you imagine them witnessing that?”
Officials stated that the crossing guard was assisting students in crossing the street when a man exited his vehicle, pursued her on the sidewalk, and punched her in the face.
“It’s horrible,” said Derby Borough Police Chief Joe Gabe in an interview with WPVI. “She explained that an unknown male got out of a Nissan Altima, approached her aggressively, chased her about a quarter of the way down the block, grabbed her, and struck her in the face with his left fist.”
The assault was captured by surveillance footage. In the video, the man chases the guard down the sidewalk until she stops next to a school bus, where he punches her with such force that she falls backward, and then he flees the scene.
According to the police, the guard reported that she lost consciousness as the assailant ran back to his car and drove away.
It seems the man might have been frustrated by waiting in traffic. The officer suggested he could have been angry about the hold-up caused by the school bus.
Prior to the assault, the suspect had been yelling profanities as he drove through the area. “When he got close to her, he shouted even more obscenities at her before grabbing her and hitting her,” said Gabe.
The crossing guard suffered swelling on her face. Fortunately, she eventually regained consciousness and made her way home, where she later contacted the authorities.
It’s reported that she did not return to work the following day, and a male crossing guard took over her responsibilities.
“We just checked in on her. She’s alright, but understandably shaken by the incident and fears returning to her job,” Gabe shared with WPVI.
Dionne Galloway, an employee at the school district, expressed concern, saying, “I see her every day. She’s part of this community. She interacts with these kids daily, always showing up on time and being helpful. I just hope she recovers. Her own kids attend this school—imagine what they must be feeling seeing such a violent act.”
The police are seeking help from the public to identify the suspect driving the gold Nissan Altima, which notably had no license plate and displayed a paper tag in the window.
“For someone to suddenly attack this woman—perhaps out of frustration from traffic—is frightening,” the police chief remarked. “This happened in plain view of children.”
Gabe urged the suspect directly, stating, “We are on your trail and intend to find and prosecute you. It’s best for you to come forward now.”
