A Carson woman accused of attacking a group of teenagers with pepper spray at a Taco Bell now faces up to six years in state prison.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced Thursday that Nicole Coleman, 36, has been charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, three misdemeanor counts of child abuse and one count of tear gas.
“While I am relieved that none of the young victims were seriously injured, the nature of this attack is deeply troubling,” Gascón said in a news release. “As adults, we have a responsibility to be role models for our youth, and violence in any form is never an acceptable response.”
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on September 11 at 5:42 p.m. and was recorded on video that quickly went viral.
The video shows A woman sprayed pepper spray and yelled obscenities at a group of Carson High School students. A fight then broke out between the boys and the woman. A woman is seen throwing a teenage boy to the ground and hitting him with a laptop.
“This is not what they deserve,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, mother of one of the teenagers. told KCAL September 11th.
Teens who were there told KCAL the conflict began last year with two girls fighting over a boy, and then escalated dramatically last week when one of the mothers arrived at Taco Bell with pepper spray.
“These girls are very traumatized and afraid of everything,” Rodriguez added.
Coleman was arrested that same night by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and pleaded not guilty Wednesday during an arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Compton.
“Our office will continue to prosecute those who threaten the safety and well-being of others in our community,” Gascon said, “especially our youth.”
