[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap] disturbing video of an elotera in South Los Angeles being blindsided, placed in a chokehold, and robbed by two suspects has gone viral since first being posted on social media on Saturday morning.
The video first posted on Instagram by @FoosgoneWild shows Amaris Mendez preparing an ear of corn for two customers who first appear to be dancing to the music playing in the background as they wait for her to be finished. One of them then walks behind Mendez and proceeds to forcefully apply a headlock on her while the other suspect attempts to grab her purse. The video which appears to be shot by someone waiting in the suspect’s escape vehicle then pans down and you hear the ear-piercing screams of the street vendor.
The suspects continue to run back to the car where they are then heard giving directions and speeding away. The video concludes with a clip that many allege to be the suspects bragging about their attempted robbery. “You see how many views we got?” One suspect says. While the other suspect confesses, “You know why these got that many views? ‘Cuz the homie posted this video of us robbing this corn lady. The homie choked her.” The original video was taken down by Instagram but remains on @FoosGoneWild’s Twitter account.
The tweet has since picked up more than 400 retweets. Its thread full of screenshots of the suspects’ alleged home address, photos of the house via Google Street View, headshots of the suspects and their loved ones, and a screengrab of a “Gunshots Heard” notification near that posted address through a neighborhood App.
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This is real life, this is @_otrrecords @therealgrimeyrecords this is what we do 🏁
The incident quickly got the attention of bilingual L.A. rapper Swifty Blue, who has posted five photos and videos about the incident on his Instagram account. The first one saying, “Go rob the plug go rob yo momma but don’t fuck wit my ppl tryna get it out the mud.. this shit got me hot 😡.” Another post followed the next day, which featured a video of him calling the street vendor, meeting her in person, giving her a $1,000.00 in cash, and flowers. The video ends with the street vendor in tears. The caption reads: “ This is real life, this is @_otrrecords @therealgrimeyrecords this is what we do 🏁.”
In a separate Instagram video posted by @UrbanKings, Mendez shares what the horrific experience was like for her. “Quedé asustada del trauma,” she says almost in tears. “Ellos vienen y nos atacan y uno cómo se va a defender?” (I’m traumatized. They come and attack us, how are we supposed to defend ourselves?)
A gofundme fundraiser has started in Mendez’s name. It is currently near the $9,000 mark of the $10,000 requested.
L.A. Taco has confirmed with LAPD’s Media Division that a police report was made and that the “investigation is ongoing.” They were unable to provide comment about the validity of the shots fired near the suspect’s home. No suspects have been arrested as of the publishing of this story.
L.A. Taco will update accordingly as the story develops.
Lexis-Olivier Ray contributed to this report.
