Newark, NJ woman hospitalized in attack by violent line cutter

NEWARK — A woman at a chicken restaurant was violently assaulted after she told a customer not to cut the line.

Newark Public Safety Director Brian O'Hara said the attack took place about 6:25 p.m. Feb. 5  at the Golden Wings Fish and Fried Chicken a block from University Hospital on South Orange Avenue.

The attacker and the woman had a "quarrel," which sent the woman to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

On Wednesday, she was still hospitalized in stable condition, according to O'Hara.

RLS Metro Breaking News reported that the man cut a line of customers and walked right up to the counter.

After the woman told the man to go to the end of the line, the man went behind the counter, pulled the woman’s hair, choked her with his arm and slammed her to the floor while shouting "this is my f***ng hood," according to RLS's report.

Still recovering from serious injuries

The attack left the woman with a loss of sight in her swollen right eye, a cut on her upper lip and injuries to her ribs.

Police had to take the woman to the hospital as an ambulance was not available. The attacker has not been arrested.

It was the second violent incident reported within a week

A skateboarder was arrested Tuesday after police said he violently punched a senior citizen with his board on Ferry Street on Friday.

Tyjihad Ellison, 21, who police say reportedly suffers from mental illness, has been charged with aggravated assault.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ