GoFundMe is launched for autistic boy filmed being slapped by Mercedes driver for damaging hood ornament on his $146,000 sedan
More than $30,000 in donations were raised on GoFundMe for a 10-year-old autistic boy who was punched in the face by a Mercedes driver in California after the child damaged the hood ornament on his car.
The filmed attack took place at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street in Pacoima, according to KTLAThe man’s license plate number was shared afterwards by the person behind the camera.
In the footage, the Spanish-speaking sister of 10-year-old Alfredo Morales says to the driver wearing sunglasses: “I’m sorry, [my brother] is autistic’ – after which he slaps Alfredo and walks away. A report has been filed with the police by the boy’s family.
The Morales family is homeless, which led to a family friend helping Alfredo with a GoFundMe campaign.
‘[Alfredo] has a severe form of autism and his family is in urgent need of help,’ the organizers wrote.
A GoFundMe has been started for an autistic California boy, 10-year-old Alfredo Morales (pictured bottom center), who was punched in the face by a Mercedes driver after the child damaged the hood ornament on his car.
“Any help would be greatly appreciated by them. They are currently homeless and any help will hopefully help them find a home.”
The campaign was a huge success, raising over $30,000 for the homeless family, far exceeding the original goal of $10,000.
Morales’ family is currently living in a truck, KTLA reported. Alfredo and his siblings take the same route every day to get groceries for the family.
The unidentified driver is seen punching 10-year-old Alfredo Morales seconds after he surveyed the damage Monday, which is estimated to cost about $500 to repair.
The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased just over a year ago from a dealer in Southern California, a vehicle history report shows.
A man named Alex Manzo, a complete unknown, is credited with setting up Gofundme after seeing their plight on social media.
I don’t know the family [personally]’, said Manzo. ‘I just saw [their story] on Instagram and that made us angry.’
“They need a lot of resources that can help, so everything is helpful and we are here. We have all the love for the family. They gave us that trust and we are going to continue to give all that back.”
Footage shows the moment a Mercedes driver punched a child for bending the hood ornament on his car
The unidentified driver is seen hitting the boy seconds after inspecting the damage, which would cost about $500 to repair. The encounter occurred Monday in Pacoima, 20 miles outside of LA
A local rapper named Swifty Blue not only offered to fix the family’s truck, but also made sure they hired a lawyer to help find the man who beat their son.
“I will do everything in my power to help them,” said Antonio Villegas, the family’s attorney. “And I don’t mean by filing some kind of lawsuit, but by giving them the tools to turn this tragic situation into something that will improve their lives.”
Local reporters have identified the attacker but have not named him, who was reportedly out of town when approached for comment.
The unidentified driver is seen punching 10-year-old Alfredo Morales seconds after he surveyed the damage Monday, which is estimated to cost about $500 to repair.
The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased just over a year ago from a dealer in Southern California, a vehicle history report shows.
The network identified the boy as 10-year-old Morales and confirmed that his family has autism.
“Sorry, he’s autistic,” the woman can be heard saying in the original clip, captured on a cellphone. “He has special needs.”
Undeterred, the man walks towards the siblings, while the woman simultaneously tries to calm the boy down and plead his case.
The filmed attack appeared to take place in Southern California, as evidenced by the cedars, palm trees, and street signs in the background, as well as the perpetrator’s license plate number, which was later shared by the person behind the camera.
In the footage, the boy’s Spanish-speaking sister says to the driver, “I’m sorry, [my son] is autistic – he has special needs
Within seconds, the man is standing over the two and quickly pulls his hand back to strike him. He strikes the boy’s face with an open palm, before sternly pointing a finger at the now cowering young man.
He then walks away and walks back to his car, his chest puffed out and his hands at his sides.
Then a voice can be heard shouting in English, “What the f**k’s wrong with you?”, at which point the man backs away – this time to inspect the damage.
He grabs the nearly destroyed ornament and then walks back to the driver’s door of the S-Class with obvious disgust. After this, more bystanders shout for intervention.
“No, stop him!” a woman’s voice can be heard shouting as he opens the door, ready to drive away. He appears to reprimand another spectator before taking his seat.
The man then starts the car and drives away, but not before the person filming the incident captures his license plate.
They also shared a photo of the man’s slightly bent Mercedes emblem, which appeared to be the only damage to the expensive car.
Meanwhile, footage of the incident is circulating on social media, while the boy’s father, Miguel Morales, tells KTLA that the boy has autism and frequently touches objects in his environment to explore his surroundings.
The man hits the boy and runs away. The incident happened on Monday, witnesses said
The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased from a Southern California dealership just over a year ago, a vehicle history report shows.
The man drives away, but not before the person who recorded the encounter gets a good look at his license plate. He has not yet been identified
Public records show the car he touched was purchased in Valencia in April 2024 from Mercedes-Benz in Valencia.
The sedan is from 2023 and was purchased for a price of $ 146,350.
DailyMail.com has contacted the California Highway Patrol to see if the license plate is related to any pending criminal cases and has filed a public records request for more information.
The middle-aged man seen in the footage has yet to be formally identified. He could be charged with assault on a minor. Depending on the level of trauma inflicted, this could be treated as a misdemeanor or a felony.
If found guilty, he could face up to six years in prison.