2nd McDonald's Worker Charged In Downtown Pittsburgh Assault
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A second McDonald's employee has been charged in a downtown Pittsburgh assault that may leave a man paralyzed.
Pittsburgh Police say they received calls about a man in the street who had been punched unconscious and a female who had been pepper-sprayed outside the McDonald's on Wood Street around 10:15 p.m. Monday.
That man, 62-year-old Marc Conn, is now fighting to walk again at Allegheny General Hospital after undergoing a five-hour surgery on his spine.
His family said he could not speak because his vocal cords were crushed, along with one side of his face.
Police say surveillance video shows an argument staring with an unknown male and Conn, along with his longtime girlfriend Billie Jo Goldsworthy, inside the McDonald's.
WARNING: Graphic content and language
When Conn tried to pull his girlfriend away, the criminal complaint says two McDonald's employees intervened and could be seen pushing and punching Goldsworthy, who police say appeared to be pushing back.
Police said Conn's girlfriend continued to argue with employees and customers outside before she was pepper-sprayed, dragged to the ground by her hair and punched repeatedly.
The video shows Conn on the phone, and police say he was trying to call 911.
Police say when Conn tried to assist his girlfriend and break up the fight, he was also attacked and knocked unconscious.
Video footage shows Davis punching Conn once into the back of the head, causing Conn to fall face-first onto the pavement.
The first McDonald's employee was identified as Roneese Davis. She was arrested Tuesday on aggravated assault charges.
The second McDonald's worker has been identified as Kaniya Martin. On Wednesday, she was charged with simple assault.
According to the criminal complaint, Martin told her boss what led up to the violent attack against the South Hills couple: "I was getting ready to clean the lobby and the lady had a conflict with another person in the store. I went over there to calm it down."
That's when Martin told her boss things got physical.
"She push me twice, so yes, I punch her back and her boyfriend hit me so I punch him back. I even told them to leave before they hit me."
WATCH: KDKA's Jennifer Borraso talks to Davis' cousin
Davis' cousin, King Jackson, talked to KDKA's Jennifer Borrasso and said his cousin was trying to protect herself.
"Billie Jo, she just kept trying to come back in McDonald's and my cousin kept telling her 'no, no, no, no.' And it just was that. They just kept trying to force (their) way back in and she wasn't with it," said Jackson.
Mayor Bill Peduto condemned the attack and hoped for a miracle that would allow Conn to walk again.
"The situation got out of control and stayed out of control for a prolonged period and I don't understand where management was at that time," he said.
As of Wednesday night, Conn is still in the hospital and is still paralyzed.
No other charges have yet been filed against anyone involved.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
