Video shows man slapping child with autism over car incident in Pacoima

Vivian Chow
·2 min read
1

Cell phone video captured the moment a man slapped a child with autism for touching his car in Pacoima.

Alfredo Morales, 10, and his older sister were crossing the street at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street when the boy reached out and touched the emblem on the man’s Mercedes-Benz sedan.

The man made an immediate U-turn and followed the two siblings to a bus stop where he pulled over. That’s when he walked over to Alfredo who was sitting on a bench and slapped him.

His sister tried to intervene but the man was still able to strike the boy.

  • 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)
  • 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)

Family members tell KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade they are angry and said the incident happened on July 1 as the siblings were taking the bus to make their daily food run.

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

Miguel said his family wants justice for Alfredo and has filed a police report on the incident.

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

Video of the incident can be seen in the video player above.

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