Fast Food Manager Loses Eye After Sticking Up For Special Needs Teen Who Was Being Harrassed

19-year-old Bianca Palomera, an assistant manager at the Habit Burger Grill in Antioch, California, was attacked last week while at work. She has now lost her right eye.

Palomera had just begun working her shift at the restaurant located at 2430 Mahogany Way when the incident occurred.

She stated that she had witnessed a boy in his teens harassing a special needs teen. The special needs teen is the brother of an employee at the restaurant.

The special needs teen had been at the location to pick up his sister. That’s when the suspect began to mess with him for no apparent reason. Palomera then stepped in and told the suspect, “Hey, you can leave.”

She added that the man walked up to her and started screaming, using an anti-Mexican slur. Punches were thrown following that, resulting in Palomera experiencing a serious wound to her eye.

Blood was running down Palomera’s face, and all she could see was black. Doctors told her that her eye was ruptured, and she had lost her vision in it forever.

Her community has now come together and have raised about $31,000 to pay for her medical costs.

Palomera says that when the attack was over, the suspect and his group got their food and left in a gray BMW SUV.

Although Palomera suffered a severe injury, she noted that she doesn’t regret her decision.

“Even though I did get basically disabled….don’t be afraid to step up for somebody whether you know them or not. If you don’t do it, no one else will. If you’re scared to do it, at least let someone else know what’s going on. Two people is better than one.”

Although the incident was captured on surveillance footage, no arrests have been in the matter.

An investigation is on-going.