Full Breakdown
Seattle Bite Attack Sparks Assault Charge and Hate-Crime Probe
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Unprovoked Bite in Broad Daylight
On September 18, Diana Gonzalez, 36, was walking toward a convenience store on Third Avenue near Marion Street when Kamilia Chadli, also 36, threw a food wrapper at her. When Gonzalez asked why, Chadli allegedly shouted “You’re the inferior race,” used a homophobic slur, spat on Gonzalez, pulled her to the ground and sank her teeth into the victim’s forehead, removing a roughly 1-inch-diameter piece of skin. Police later recovered the flesh fragment in a storm grate. Gonzalez was taken to Harborview Medical Center for emergency care and will require skin-flap surgery in early October, leaving a permanent scar.
Background & Context
Court documents indicate Chadli was residing in a shelter across the street from the incident site and has a documented history of mental-health and substance-abuse issues, including prior involuntary mental-health evaluations.
Data & Statistics
- Bite size: approximately 1 inch in diameter.
- Bail set at $150,000 for the felony second-degree assault charge.
Official Statements & Responses
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirmed that prosecutors filed a second-degree assault charge, citing intentional assault and reckless infliction of substantial bodily harm. While the case was referred for a possible hate-crime investigation, prosecutors said the assault charge could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at this stage; a hate-crime charge may be added later if evidence supports it. Seattle police described the incident as a “random attack” and noted the presence of a piece of flesh in a storm drain at the scene.
On-the-Ground Reports
Hotel employee Holt, who was working as a valet at the nearby Arctic Hotel, witnessed the assault. He said Chadli aggressively approached Gonzalez, bit the forehead piece, and then fled across the street. Holt and a coworker pursued her to a bus stop in front of the King County Courthouse, where a marshal detained her until police arrived. Holt described the scene as “insane” and emphasized that violence among unhoused individuals in the area is “uncommon.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It looks like a zombie bite in a movie that you would see – like it’s a full circle,” — Diana Gonzalez
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The investigation remains open on whether a hate-crime charge will be filed. Prosecutors have not yet charged Chadli with a hate crime, stating that additional evidence is required to meet the legal standard.
What’s Next
Chadli is scheduled for an arraignment on September 28. The court will determine whether the bail amount remains at $150,000 and whether additional charges, including a potential hate-crime count, will be added.