Community rallies behind family of autistic boy slapped by man in Pacoima

Vivian Chow
·5 min read

Community members are outraged and have rallied around the family of a boy with autism who was slapped by a man for touching his car.

The incident happened on July 1 as Alfredo Morales, 10, and his older sister were crossing the street in Pacoima.

That’s when Alfredo reached out and touched the emblem on the man’s Mercedes-Benz sedan.
The man made an immediate U-turn and followed the siblings to a bus stop where he pulled over. He walked over to Alfredo who was sitting on a bench and slapped him.

His sister, who was heard apologizing, tried to intervene, but the man still struck the boy.

Cell phone video from a bystander who captured the confrontation has gone viral on social media. Local community members are outraged and some have even shown up at the suspect’s home demanding answers.

The boy’s father, Miguel Morales, said Alfredo has autism and often touches objects around him to explore his environment.

  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • The male driver pulled over at a bus stop where the siblings were sitting at a bench in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    The male driver pulled over at a bus stop where the siblings were sitting at a bench in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • The male driver pulled over at a bus stop where the siblings were sitting at a bench in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    The male driver pulled over at a bus stop where the siblings were sitting at a bench in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024.
    Alfredo Morales explores a microphone as KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade speaks with his family on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The crosswalk near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street in Pacoima where the incident happened. (KTLA)
    The crosswalk near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street in Pacoima where the incident happened. (KTLA)
  • The Morales Family is currently homeless and living out of their truck. (GoFundMe)
    The Morales Family is currently homeless and living out of their truck. (GoFundMe)
  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
  • A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
    A man seen walking up to Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)

Alfredo’s family, who is currently homeless, said they are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they’ve received following the incident.

KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade met the Morales family at a Pacoima park and discovered they were living out of a truck that was inoperable.

Every day, the siblings take the bus to make a daily food and grocery run for the family. They were taking their usual bus route when the July 1 confrontation happened.

Now, good Samaritans and local community members are working to help the Morales family get back on their feet.

Alex Manzo created a GoFundMe for the family which continues to grow even after exceeding its goals.

“I don’t know the family [personally],” Manzo said. “I just saw [their story] on Instagram and it got us mad. They need a lot of resources that can help out so everything is helpful and we’re here. We have all the love for the family. They gave us that trust and we’re going to continue to give it all back.”

The story also caught the attention of Los Angeles rapper Swifty Blue who has offered to help fix the family’s broken truck.

  • The Morales family, who are homeless, are seen spending an afternoon together outside of the truck they live in at a Pacoima park on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
    The Morales family, who are homeless, are seen spending an afternoon together outside of the truck they live in at a Pacoima park on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The Morales family, who are homeless, are seen spending an afternoon together outside of the truck they live in at a Pacoima park on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
    The Morales family, who are homeless, are seen spending an afternoon together outside of the truck they live in at a Pacoima park on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The Morales family, who are homeless, are seen spending an afternoon together outside of the truck they live in at a Pacoima park on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
    The Morales family, who are homeless, are seen spending an afternoon together outside of the truck they live in at a Pacoima park on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Alfredo Morales' parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
    Alfredo Morales’ parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
  • Alex Manzo, a good Samaritan, heard about the Morales family and created a GoFundMe to help them get back on their feet. (KTLA)
    Alex Manzo, a good Samaritan, heard about the Morales family and created a GoFundMe to help them get back on their feet. (KTLA)
  • Los Angeles rapper Swifty Blue has vowed to help fix the Morales family's truck so they can be mobile again. (KTLA)
    Los Angeles rapper Swifty Blue has vowed to help fix the Morales family’s truck so they can be mobile again. (KTLA)
  • Antonio Villegas, the family’s attorney, speaks to Alfredo Morales' mother. He has pledged to seek justice for the family. (KTLA)
    Antonio Villegas, the family’s attorney, speaks to Alfredo Morales’ mother. He has pledged to seek justice for the family. (KTLA)
  • Alfredo Morales' parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
    Alfredo Morales’ parents (on left) are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
  • Alfredo Morales' parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
    Alfredo Morales’ parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
  • Alfredo Morales and his sister is seen in the truck they live in with their family at a Pacoima park. (KTLA)
    Alfredo Morales and his sister is seen in the truck they live in with their family at a Pacoima park. (KTLA)
  • The Morales Family is currently homeless and living out of their truck. (GoFundMe)
    The Morales Family is currently homeless and living out of their truck. (GoFundMe)
  • Alfredo Morales' parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
    Alfredo Morales’ parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. (KTLA)
  • Alfredo Morales and his sister is seen outside the truck they live in with their family at a Pacoima park. (KTLA)
    Alfredo Morales and his sister is seen outside the truck they live in with their family at a Pacoima park. (KTLA)

“The truck doesn’t run,” Swifty Blue said. “I told them we’re going to fix the transmission, rebuild the transmission, whatever it takes. We’re going to help them get mobile so they don’t have to stay stuck here.”

On July 4, local housing officials met with the Morales family and an attorney, who became aware of the story after Swifty Blue sent him the viral video, is now representing them.

The Morales family had previously said they wanted justice for Alfredo and had filed a police report on the assault.

“I will do anything in my power to help them,” said Antonio Villegas, the family’s attorney. “And I don’t mean just by filing some sort of lawsuit, but by getting them resources to turn this tragic situation into something that helps improve their lives.”

KTLA has identified the male driver involved in the incident but was told he was out of town when we reached out for a statement.

A GoFundMe for the Morales family, who are currently homeless, can be found here.

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