Viral Video Shows Georgia Man Striking 3-Year-Old Child in Grocery Store Parking Lot

A viral video showing a Georgia man apparently hitting a toddler in a Lilburn grocery store parking lot led to the man’s arrest on child cruelty charges.

Gwinnett County Police said they were notified about the video on Saturday, after it had been viewed thousands of times, Detectives responded to the Kroger store where the incident took place and obtained surveillance footage from the parking lot “that verified the incident.”

The video showed the suspect striking the child at least three times while yelling for them to “shut up,” WAGA reported. The witness who recorded the video called 911 before turning on the camera. Another witness reportedly tried to intervene, but the suspect began berating that person and told them to mind their own business.

They identified the suspect as 44-year-old James Collins and arrested him a short time later. He is being held on $4,600 bond, jail records show.

Police said the 3-year-old child suffered minor injuries and is being cared for by family members. Investigators also notified the Department of Family and Child Services.

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[Featured image: James Collins/Gwinnett County Police Department]