New Mexico – In a shocking incident in New Mexico, an 8-year-old girl was brutally attacked inside a crowded restaurant by a 24-year-old man, identified as N. Souci, who admitted he lashed out simply because the child got in his way. The young girl, who had been enjoying time with her family, was left seriously injured and hospitalized after the violent and unprovoked assault.
Souci has been indicted by a grand jury on multiple felony charges, including abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charges stem from a terrifying encounter that occurred late last month at a busy and well-known restaurant. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the young victim had been “looking at a waterfall” feature inside the restaurant when Souci approached her from behind. In a sudden and inexplicable act of violence, he hit her with a bottle in the head and then used the jagged remains to stab and slice her neck. The girl sustained serious injuries that required 19 stitches. Authorities stated that the child and Souci were complete strangers, and there was no prior altercation or connection between them.
The girl’s father, B. Rose, recounted the terrifying events with local media. He explained that he and his family had gone to the restaurant for a meal but expected a wait due to the restaurant being crowded. While waiting, his wife and daughter walked around the restaurant to admire the murals and decorations. “That’s when I heard my wife from across the restaurant yelling, ‘No, no, stop,’” Rose said. “And then I knew something was going on with my family.”
When Rose reached his daughter, he found her soaking wet and visibly injured. She told him that a man had hit her with a bottle. Court documents reveal that after the bottle shattered, Souci continued his attack by stabbing and slicing the child with the broken glass. “He said he did it because she got in his way,” the court documents stated, a chilling justification that left prosecutors and the community outraged.
After the attack, Rose said Souci wasn’t finished. He described a moment when the suspect stood back up and pulled out another weapon. “At first, I maybe thought he was going to use [the knife] against me,” Rose recalled. “But quickly I could tell that his intention diverted, and he was looking back over towards my daughter. So I wanted to make sure that I could get in between him and her.” The father’s swift action may have prevented even further tragedy.
District Attorney S. Bregman expressed deep concern over the nature of the assault and emphasized the severity of the charges Souci now faces. The individual was indicted for first-degree child abuse, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He’s facing 22 and a half years. If he’s convicted of that child abuse, that is mandatory 18 years. Souci is currently being held without bond at the county Jail. His arrest and the brutal nature of the attack have drawn widespread attention and concern from the community. As the young victim continues to recover from her injuries, her family—and the public—are left reeling from the trauma of what should have been an ordinary family outing.
