A Chicago-area mother says she doesn’t want to see any other family experience what hers did.
Ayisha Powell says the man in an attack caught on video was angry about a handicapped parking space. A witness recorded cellphone video showing a hate filled attack on a young boy--Powell's 9-year-old son. Powell tells NBC 5 her son was punched in the face by a 57-year-old man. Joliet police say the suspect, Wayne Orkwiszewski, was charged with battery, assault and disorderly conduct.
"I lost it, I lost it," the child's mother said. "I wanted to do something to him."
The scene played out in the parking lot of this Dollar General in Joliet.
"He’s still traumatized I don’t know if he needs counseling or myself about this," she said.
Powell says the man in the video was angry about a handicapped parking space.
"He came in. He said who the F parked in the red car in handicapped which I was parked right here not even in handicapped," she said.
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According to Powell even after she relocated her vehicle the man continued to taunt her and her kids, inside and outside the store calling them racist names and putting his hands in her face.
"My son ran up saying come on momma and he called my son the N word and when he punched him I had my hand on the mace and I sprayed the whole can," she asid.
Powell believes Orkwiszewski should be charged with a hate crime.
"I’m scared I don’t want to bring my kids in public I feel like I need protection everywhere I go," she said. "It was a hate crime to me."
Orkwiszewski was released on his own recognizance.
Powell says she would like him to apologize to her family and hopes that might help them all move forward.
