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Community rallies to support homeless family of autistic boy slapped by man in Pacoima

Posted on by Dsen .N

Community members rallied around the family of an autistic boy who was slapped by a man for touching his car.

The incident occurred on July 1 as Alfredo Morales, 10, and his older sister were crossing the street in Pacoima.


That’s when Alfredo reached out and touched the emblem on the man’s Mercedes-Benz sedan.
The man immediately turned around and followed the siblings to a bus stop where he stopped. He walked over to Alfredo who was sitting on a bench and slapped him.

His sister, heard apologizing, tried to intervene, but the man hit the boy anyway.

The video filmed by a witness who filmed the confrontation on his cell phone has gone viral on social media. Local residents are outraged and some have even gone to the suspect’s home to demand answers.

The boy’s father, Miguel Morales, said Alfredo was autistic and often touched objects around him to explore his environment.

A man was seen approaching Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem of his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
The driver stopped at a bus stop where the siblings were sitting on a bench in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
The driver stopped at a bus stop where the siblings were sitting on a bench in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
A man was seen approaching Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem of his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
Alfredo Morales explores a microphone as KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade speaks with his family on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)
The crosswalk near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street in Pacoima where the incident occurred. (KTLA)
The Morales family is currently homeless and living in their truck. (GoFundMe)
A man was seen approaching Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem of his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
A man was seen approaching Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem of his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
A man was seen approaching Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem of his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)
A man was seen approaching Alfredo Morales, 10, and slapping him in the face after the boy touched the emblem of his Mercedes-Benz sedan in Pacoima on July 1, 2024. (RMG)

The family of Alfredo, who is currently homeless, said they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they received following the incident.

KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade met the Morales family at a Pacoima park and discovered they were living in an unusable truck.

Every day, the siblings take the bus to do the daily shopping for the family. They were taking their usual route when the July 1 confrontation took place.

Today, good Samaritans and local community members are working to help the Morales family get back on their feet.

Alex Manzo created a GoFundMe for the family that continues to grow even after exceeding its goals.

“I don’t know the family (personally),” Manzo said. “I just saw (their story) on Instagram and it made us angry. They need a lot of resources to help them, so anything helps and we’re here. We have all the love for the family. They gave us that trust and we’re going to continue to give it back to them.”

The story also caught the attention of Los Angeles rapper Swifty Blue, who offered to help fix the family’s broken-down truck.

The homeless Morales family is seen spending an afternoon together outside the truck they live in at a park in Pacoima on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
The homeless Morales family is seen spending an afternoon together outside the truck they live in at a park in Pacoima on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
The homeless Morales family is seen spending an afternoon together outside the truck they live in at a park in Pacoima on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
Alfredo Morales’ parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community. (KTLA)
Alex Manzo, a good Samaritan, heard about the Morales family and started a GoFundMe to help them get back on their feet. (KTLA)
Los Angeles rapper Swifty Blue has promised to help fix the Morales family’s truck so they can be mobile again. (KTLA)
Antonio Villegas, the family’s attorney, spoke with Alfredo Morales’ mother. He vowed to get justice for the family. (KTLA)
The parents of Alfredo Morales (left) are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community. (KTLA)
Alfredo Morales’ parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community. (KTLA)
Alfredo Morales and his sister are seen in the truck they live in with their family in a park in Pacoima. (KTLA)
The Morales family is currently homeless and living in their truck. (GoFundMe)
Alfredo Morales’ parents are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community. (KTLA)
Alfredo Morales and his sister are seen outside the truck they live in with their family in a park in Pacoima. (KTLA)

“The truck ain’t working,” Swifty Blue said. “I told them we’re gonna fix the transmission, rebuild it, do whatever it takes. We’re gonna help them move so they don’t get stuck here.”

On July 4, local housing officials met with the Morales family, and a lawyer who learned of the story after Swifty Blue sent him the viral video is now representing them.

The Morales family had previously said they wanted justice for Alfredo and had filed a police report about the incident.

“I will do everything in my power to help them,” said Antonio Villegas, the family’s attorney. “And I’m not just talking about taking legal action, but providing them with the resources they need to turn this tragic situation into something that helps improve their lives.”

KTLA identified the male driver involved in the incident, but we were told he was out of town when we requested a statement.

A GoFundMe for the Morales family, who are currently homeless, can be found here.