Three more women have been charged in an assault on a couple outside a Downtown McDonald’s last month that left the man paralyzed and was captured on video that was widely circulated on social media.
The charges brought the number of defendants to five, at least three of whom were McDonald’s employees.
Charged by summons with one count each of simple assault were: Sharondia Lett, 19, of East Allegheny; Alicia Johnson, 18, of Wilkinsburg; and Atiya Rosser, 19, of Sheraden. The charges were lodged Nov. 21.
________________
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following video contains acts of violence and graphic language:
________________
Pittsburgh police said the three women attacked Billie Jo Goldsworthy around 10:15 pm. on Nov. 4 outside the McDonald’s in the 600 block of Wood Street.
Another woman, Kaniya Martin, 18, of the North Side was charged with simple assault. And the final defendant, Roneese Davis, 25, of Perry North, was charged with aggravated assault. Police said she delivered a blow to Ms. Goldsworthy’s boyfriend, Marc Conn, 62, of the South Hills, that knocked him out. Mr. Conn was paralyzed with a spinal injury.
A criminal complaint said the couple got into an argument inside the McDonald’s with several employees. The dispute, which spilled into the street, was captured on video by cellphone and a McDonald’s surveillance camera.
Ms. Martin and Ms. Lett, both McDonald’s employees, punched Ms. Goldsworthy as she sat on the ground, the complaint said. Both were still on duty and supposed to be working at the time, according to the complaint.
Police said video showed that Ms. Johnson intervened as Ms. Goldsworthy and Ms. Davis yelled at each other outside the restaurant. As Ms. Goldsworthy tried to get back inside McDonald’s to get her belongings and her small service dog, which was inside a travel case, Ms. Johnson removed her jacket and adopted a “fighting stance,” the complaint said.
Ms. Rosser, who is friends with Ms. Davis, pushed Ms. Goldsworthy and then sprayed the victim in her face with either pepper spray or Mace, according to the complaint.
Ms. Johnson grabbed Ms. Goldsworthy by the hair and yanked her to the ground, causing her head to slam into the sidewalk, the complaint said.
