ASHEVILLE, NC. (THECOUNT) — David Steven Bell, of Black Mountain, North Carolina, has been identified as the suspect caught on video, pushing then striking an 11-year-old girl outside a North Carolina shopping mall on Saturday.
Bell, 51, was arrested by an off-duty officer and charged with assault on a child under the age of 12, a misdemeanor offense.
The girl is seen getting in Bell’s face before he shoves her away. The youth then returns waving her hands in Bell’s face when he unloads a brutal punch, leveling the youngster.
Bell is listed in an incident report as standing 6-feet-5 and weighing 250 pounds. Video of the assault was shared widely on social media.
The victim’s current condition following the incident was not provided by officials.
Bell was also charged with two other counts of assault on a female after two 13-year-old girls also said he pushed them, according to Fox8.
Some people online came to the Bell’s defense, saying he was responding to a threat after being pushed. The exact circumstances of what led up to the assault remain uncertain. Bell has not responded to the paper’s request for a comment.
Developing story.
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