Shocking video shows couple beating a restaurant owner

Shocking video shows couple beating a restaurant owner



Police are on the hunt for a couple who were caught on video camera beating a restaurant owner and her 15-year-old daughter because they weren't happy with their meals.

The incident happened at the Qwik Chick takeout stand next to U.S. Highway 1 in Baxley, Georgia just after 3pm on Thursday, reported WTOC.

The couple, identified as Nathaniel Eric Smith and Latasha M. Smith, got into an altercation with the food store's owner, Jeanette Norris, because they said their chicken was cold and they didn't have enough fries.



Norris refunded their money but she said they went 'berserk' anyway and began beating on the store's windows.

She walked outside to tell the pair that police were on the way and that's when footage shows Latasha rushing at the woman and punching her several times.

Norris goes out of frame and Latasha leaves, but then her 15-year-old daughter gets out of a vehicle and comes over to help. That's when Nathaniel clocks her in the face, sending her flying backwards. He then walks off.

Other customers quickly came over to comfort the girl.



'One of my employees yelled, ''He's got her,'' and that's when I realized he had hit her,"' Norris told the outlet. Who does that? Who punches a child like she's a grown man standing there? He needs putting in jail.'

The pair were left with two black eyes. The mother suffered a broken nose, her daughter had a concussion.

Chief James Godfrey of the Baxley Police Department said he hadn't seen anything like this in his 41 years on the force. 'That's just pure brutality,' he said.

The couple are identified by police as Nathaniel Eric Smith and Latasha M. Smith. There are active warrants of aggravated battery and cruelty to children out on them



Police released the surveillance video and were inundated with tips, which led to the department identifying the suspects, who are still on the run.

Police say both suspects left in a cream or silver-colored 2007 Cadillac Escalade with tag number REU8495.

Officials say the two have access to two other vehicles described as a silver 2004 Cadillac Deville 4s with Georgia tag number PVK5483, and a green 1996 Cadillac Deville 4s with Georgia tag number BXQ1673.

There are active warrants of aggravated battery and cruelty to children out on the couple.

Norris said that she's been touched by the outpouring of support from the community.

'You hear the old saying, ''people don't want to get involved.'' They got involved,' she told the outlet. 'Between Facebook, social media, and you guys at WTOC, it has been amazing the response we have gotten from people.'