SEATTLE, Washington — A 36-year-old woman says she was attacked without warning in downtown Seattle on September 18, leaving her with a serious forehead injury that required medical treatment and a skin graft.
Diana Gonzalez told police she was walking toward a nearby convenience store when a woman she did not know threw a food wrapper at her.
After Gonzalez questioned the woman, identified in charging documents as 36-year-old Kamilia Chadli, prosecutors say Chadli made racist and homophobic remarks, spit on Gonzalez and pulled her to the ground.
According to charging documents, Chadli bit a roughly one-inch section of flesh from Gonzalez’s forehead during the struggle.
Police reported finding blood on the sidewalk and a piece of tissue in a nearby storm drain.
A hotel employee who witnessed the confrontation reportedly intervened with another worker to separate the women.
Chadli then left the area and was detained near the King County Courthouse after a witness followed her and alerted a courthouse marshal.
Gonzalez was evaluated by Seattle Fire and transported to Harborview Medical Center.
Prosecutors said the injury is expected to leave a permanent scar, and reporting indicates she underwent or was scheduled for a skin graft.
Chadli was initially arrested on suspicion of a hate-crime offense, but prosecutors have filed a second-degree assault charge.
A hate-crime charge has not been filed at this time, although prosecutors have said it could potentially be added if the evidence meets Washington’s legal standard.
Her bail was set at $150,000, according to prosecutors. The allegations remain allegations unless and until proven in court.
Gonzalez described the attack as completely random and said the experience has left her concerned about what could happen if the person accused of attacking her encounters someone else.
