Footage shows the moment a Mercedes driver slapped a child for bending the car’s bonnet ornament.
The unidentified motorist is seen hitting the boy seconds after assessing the damage, which is believed to cost around $500 to repair.
The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased just over a year ago from a Southern California dealer, a vehicle history report shows.
The filmed attack appears to have taken place in the same region, as suggested by the cedars, palm trees and street signs in the background, as well as the attacker’s license plate, which was later shared by the person behind the camera.
In the footage, the boy’s mother, who speaks Spanish, tells the driver, who is wearing sunglasses, “I’m sorry, (my son) is autistic,” after which the driver slaps her and drives off. At the time of writing, it is unclear exactly when and where the incident took place.
Footage shows the moment a Mercedes driver slapped a child for bending the car’s bonnet ornament.
The unidentified motorist is seen hitting the boy seconds after assessing the damage, which is believed to cost around $500 to repair.
“I’m sorry, he’s autistic,” the woman is heard saying in the video, which has not yet appeared in any media outlet. “He has special needs.”
The man, unfazed, proceeds to move towards the mother and child, while the woman is seen simultaneously trying to calm the child and plead her case.
Within seconds, the man is standing over the two of them, and he quickly raises his hand and strikes the boy’s face with an open palm.
He then proceeds to point his finger at the now cowering young man before walking away and returning to his car.
A voice is heard shouting, in English, “What the hell is wrong with you?” as the man returns to inspect the damage again.
He grabs the nearly dismembered trim before heading back to the driver’s side door of the S-Class, seemingly shaking his head in disgust.
“No, stop him!” a female voice is heard shouting as she opens the door ready to leave, where she appears to berate another spectator before taking a seat.
The man continues driving, but not before the person who recorded the encounter gets a good look at his license plate.
The filmed attack appears to have taken place in Southern California, as suggested by the cedar trees, palm trees and street signs in the background, as well as the attacker’s license plate, which was later shared by the person behind the camera.
In the footage, the boy’s Spanish-speaking mother tells the driver wearing sunglasses: “I’m sorry, (my son) is autistic, he has special needs.”
The man proceeds to slap the child and walk away. At the time of writing, it is unclear when and where exactly the incident took place.
The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased just over a year ago from a dealer in Southern California, a vehicle history report shows.
The man continues on his way, but not before the person who recorded the encounter has had a good look at his license plate. He has not yet been identified.
They also shared a still image of the man’s Mercedes badge slightly bent, which appeared to be the only damage sustained.
At the time of writing, it is unclear whether a police report was filed, as footage of the incident is circulating on social media.
Meanwhile, public records indicated that the car was purchased in Valencia in April 2024, from Mercedes-Benz of Valencia.
The sedan is a 2023 model built in Germany and was purchased for a price of $146,350.
DailyMail.com has contacted the California Highway Patrol to see if the license plate is linked to any active criminal cases.
The middle-aged man seen in the footage has not yet been identified. He could be charged with assault of a minor, which, depending on the trauma inflicted, could be considered a misdemeanor or a felony.
If convicted, he could face up to six years in prison.
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