Lady traffic guard sucker punched in Philadelphia

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Summary: The unidentified crossing guard in her 30s was assaulted by Rashiem Russell, 29, of West Philadelphia, who chased her down and punched her in the face outside Walnut Street Elementary School in Darby Borough, Pennsylvania, on March 16, leaving her unconscious. The victim resigned her position days later after sustaining a concussion and emotional injuries from the attack shown in a viral video. Russell was arrested in South Carolina on March 20, reports say.

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DARBY, Pa. — A school crossing guard in this Delaware County community resigned her position days after a motorist chased her down and punched her in the face during student dismissal, knocking her unconscious in an assault captured on surveillance video that spread rapidly online.

The confrontation occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. on March 16 at the intersection of South Sixth and Walnut streets outside Walnut Street Elementary School. The guard was directing traffic to help children cross safely, including those boarding a school bus, when the driver of a gold sedan began honking and accelerating aggressively. He parked his vehicle, exited and ran after her along the sidewalk.

After briefly blocking her path during the pursuit, the man struck the guard in the face with a closed fist. She fell to the pavement and lost consciousness as he fled on foot. The video footage showed the full sequence, including the guard lying motionless before bystanders assisted her.

The victim, a woman in her 30s who has remained anonymous, sustained a concussion along with physical and emotional injuries. She received hospital treatment and was later released to recover at home. She has since stepped down from her duties with the organization providing crossing guard services for local schools.

Investigators identified the suspect’s vehicle as a 2009 Nissan Altima through the surveillance recordings and public tips. Philadelphia police stopped the car midweek, where passengers revealed the driver had fled to South Carolina. U.S. Marshals tracked him through family connections and took 29-year-old Rashiem Russell of West Philadelphia into custody without incident on March 20 in Darlington. He remains in custody there awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Russell faces aggravated assault and related charges for the attack on the guard, who was simply performing her routine responsibilities to protect students at the time.

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