(Source : FOX 5 Atlanta) A tourist visiting Atlanta with a group of middle school students was violently attacked in broad daylight near the World of Coca-Cola, turning a routine sightseeing trip into a police investigation.
The assault took place on Baker Street at approximately 11:30 a.m. when a Savannah resident, who was serving as a chaperone for a group of sixth graders from Calvary Day School, was struck without warning. The victim, identified as Mrs. Griffis, was walking alongside one of the students and a parent when a man suddenly approached her and hit her in the jaw, causing multiple fractures.
Her husband, Tim Griffis, described the incident as happening “so fast” and said there were no words exchanged before the attack. “This person just appeared. It happened so fast,” he told FOX 5 Atlanta. “She was knocked unconscious, went to the ground and hit her head.”
Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene, and Mrs. Griffis was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. Her injuries included multiple broken bones in her face, and she is still experiencing numbness in the area where she was struck. Despite the severity of the attack, she expressed gratitude that the situation wasn’t worse.
“She’s in the ambulance when she calls me,” Mr. Griffis recalled, still shaken by the event. “We’re just gonna have to pray there is no surgery needed.”
The suspect fled the scene, but the incident occurred in a busy tourist area, and investigators are hopeful that nearby surveillance cameras will help identify the attacker.
Atlanta police are actively investigating the assault but have not yet made an arrest. The Griffis family is hoping the perpetrator will be held accountable for the unprovoked assault.
“I love Atlanta. We grew up in south Georgia. We don’t need to be afraid to walk down the street, especially during the middle of the day,” said Tim Griffis, expressing frustration over the senseless violence.
As Mrs. Griffis continues to recover, the family is left grappling with the aftermath of what should have been a joyful outing, now marred by a violent attack in a popular tourist district
