Man Slaps Mom Sitting with Her Children at McDonald’s in Unprovoked ‘Act of Hate,’: Cops

A family outing turned into a distressing incident in Fremont, California, when a 22-year-old man allegedly attacked a mother and made a racist remark inside a McDonald’s restaurant. Authorities say Marcus Harper has been charged with battery and a hate crime for the April 5 incident, which took place around 2:15 p.m. while a family of four — two parents and their children — was dining. According to the Fremont Police Department, Harper approached the family unprovoked and began by stealing food directly from their table, consuming it in front of them. He then briefly walked away, only to return and allegedly slap the mother across the face while standing behind her.

Racist Remark and Assault on a Child

After the physical assault on the mother, prosecutors allege Harper made a racially charged statement: “You Indians need to go back to your country.” The verbal attack added to the emotional trauma of the incident, especially given the presence of the couple’s young children. Before leaving the fast-food restaurant, Harper allegedly escalated his aggression by throwing a sauce packet at the family’s 9-year-old daughter. The unprovoked series of attacks shocked both the victims and nearby diners.

Suspect Located and Arrested

Following the incident, Fremont police obtained an arrest warrant for Harper. On April 9, four days after the altercation, officers located him sitting alone in a parked vehicle in the area of Marshlands Road and Thornton Avenue. He was taken into custody without resistance and booked into Santa Rita Jail, where he remained as of Wednesday. A police report later revealed that Harper did not deny his actions. He reportedly told officers that the father gave him a “weird feeling” and that he “felt as if [the man] wanted him to slap her.” Harper further claimed he blacked out during the incident and couldn’t recall all the details of the attack.

District Attorney Condemns Hate-Fueled Violence

Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson strongly condemned the act, calling it a clear example of racially motivated aggression. Speaking to KTVU, she said, “This act of hate based upon the perceived national origin of these victims is completely unacceptable. The message needs to be clear that such behavior will not be tolerated, and those who commit hate crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The case underscores growing concerns around racially motivated incidents in public spaces and the need for firm legal consequences. Prosecutors are now preparing to move forward with charges aimed at holding Harper accountable under California’s hate crime statutes.