A woman in Seattle says a stranger bit a piece of her face off in an unprovoked attack. Diana Gonzalez said she had never seen her alleged attacker before and that the woman spat on her, grabbed her, and bit her on the forehead, removing a one-inch chunk of skin.
Victim describes 'zombie bite'
'It looks like a zombie bite, like in a movie that you would see,' Diana said after the attack. She believes the assault was motivated by racism and homophobia, alleging the woman shouted multiple slurs at her.
Kamilia Chadli, 36, has been charged with second-degree assault over the incident, which happened in downtown Seattle at around 3.45pm local time on September 18.
Attack details
Diana said Chadli was sitting on the steps of the Arctic Hotel eating a hamburger when she walked by on her way to get a drink at a 7-Eleven near her workplace. Chadli then allegedly threw a piece of rubbish at her.
'Almost instantly she's like, "Inferior race, you're an inferior race,"' the victim said. Diana claimed the suspect then spat on her and grabbed her before the pair went 'to the side of each other' and began to fight.
'That's when she […] bites my forehead,' Diana added. 'I could feel her biting me.' The brawl was broken up by a hotel employee, while bystanders helped Diana control the bleeding.
Aftermath and charges
Diana said she was told Chadli spat the skin she had bitten off into a grate. Chadli is understood to have walked to a nearby bus stop near a courthouse before being taken into custody.
Diana was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Prosecutors say the wound required a skin graft and that Diana will be permanently scarred. 'It's so weird, I can't believe she bit a piece of my face off,' she added.
Diana said she hopes Chadli is given a long prison sentence and receives the help she needs to prevent further attacks.
