Prosecutors in Seattle are considering whether to add a hate crime charge after a woman was allegedly attacked in broad daylight and had a roughly 1in-diameter piece of skin bitten from her forehead.
Alleged attack and immediate response
Police say the incident occurred on 18 September when the victim, Diana Gonzalez, 36, was walking to a convenience store. Authorities allege the suspect, identified by prosecutors as Kamilia Chadli, first threw a food wrapper at the victim. When Gonzalez confronted her, prosecutors say Chadli launched into verbal abuse, including what the victim reported as a racist taunt calling her “an inferior race” and using a homophobic slur, before spitting on her and forcing her to the ground.
It is alleged the assailant then bit into the victim’s forehead and removed a circular piece of flesh. Officers at the scene reportedly recovered a fragment of the victim’s skin where the suspect was said to have spat it into a nearby grate. Gonzalez has told local media the injury resembles “a zombie bite” and that she will have a permanent scar.
“It looks like a zombie bite in a movie that you would see – like it’s a full circle,” Gonzalez told KOMO-TV.
Suspect held and charges
Prosecutors have charged Chadli with second-degree assault, a felony. She is currently held in custody with bail set at $150,000. An arraignment has been scheduled.
In addition to the assault charge, the case is the subject of a separate hate crime investigation. Prosecutors noted that a hate crime count has not been filed yet but could be added later if evidence meets the statutory burden required by state law.
Context provided in court and police records
Court documents and police reports cited by local outlets indicate the suspect had been living in a shelter across the street from the location of the alleged attack. Prior interactions with police reportedly describe the suspect as having a history of mental health and substance misuse issues.
The victim and the alleged attacker are reported to be the same age and to share similar complexions and curly hair. Gonzalez told reporters she asked the suspect whether she thought either of them was white or Black, and that the suspect replied: “I don’t care,” while repeating racial insults.
Consequences and legal threshold for hate crime charges
The decision whether to pursue a hate crime enhancement rests on whether prosecutors can demonstrate the attack was motivated by bias against a protected characteristic. That threshold can be higher than for the underlying assault charge, requiring proof of the perpetrator’s intent or bias at the time of the offence.
The alleged removal of tissue, the recovery of a fragment at the scene and witness accounts — including that a witness chased the suspect and flagged down a court marshal — are among the elements prosecutors will examine when considering additional charges.
- Date of incident: 18 September
- Victim: Diana Gonzalez, 36
- Accused: Kamilia Chadli
- Current charge: Second-degree assault (felony)
- Bail: $150,000
- Status: Hate crime investigation under way
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Injury description | Approximately 1in-diameter circular wound on forehead; piece of tissue reportedly found at scene |
| Plaintiff’s remarks | Described wound as similar to a cinematic “zombie bite”; expects permanent scar |
The case has drawn attention because of the unusual nature of the alleged injury and the potential motive claim. Prosecutors must now determine whether evidence, including witness statements, physical evidence and any statements made by the accused, is sufficient to prove bias beyond a reasonable doubt for the purposes of a hate crime enhancement.
As proceedings continue, the arraignment will be the next public court event where formal pleas may be entered. Court records and local reporting suggest the accused had been in contact with police before the incident, and that mental health and substance use were factors recorded in earlier encounters.
Police and prosecutors have not disclosed further details of their investigation. Anyone with information about the incident was urged to contact local authorities, according to media reports.
