Mother of Hard Rock Cafe server reacts to attack suspect’s ‘accident’ claim: ‘Why are you lying?’

MIAMI — The mother of a Hard Rock Cafe server attacked at downtown Miami’s Bayside Marketplace says it has been an emotional and difficult week as her daughter recovers from her injuries and a suspect faces a criminal charge.

Read more Trio vies for commission seat in Miami-Dade’s District 2

Leer en español

The victim’s mother, Luisa, said her daughter is still injured. She suffered a concussion, bruising, and she still has a chipped tooth from the attack, which was caught on camera.

“Every time I watch it, like, I cannot believe that they they did this to my daughter,” she said. “I mean, why?”

Miami police said Daniel Ramirez, 47, of Lubbock, Texas, attacked the server about 30 minutes after she told him he couldn’t snack on drink garnishes in an employee-only area.

“It has been very, very hard,” Luisa said. “This is something that you would never expect any mom to go through. She was just doing her job. She was like not being disrespectful to the customer.”

Ramirez was taken into custody by the Miami Police Department Friday morning at a Royal Caribbean terminal at PortMiami after returning from a cruise. He’s facing a felony battery charge.

Read more Police: Surveillance videos show man abusing dog in Miami elevator

After bonding out of jail over the weekend, Ramirez claimed the two merely “ran into each other” by “accident.”

“Why are you lying? Why did you do this to my daughter?,” Luisa asked.

A judge ordered Ramirez to stay away from the victim. He told Local 10 News that he’s returning home to Texas.

“I can’t wait for him to come back to court and for the judge to to do the right thing and to find justice,” Luisa said.

Luisa has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her daughter’s medical expenses.

Read more Police: Surveillance videos show man abusing dog in Miami elevator