A San Antonio mother and her three-year-old daughter survived what she describes as a horror movie attack when an illegal alien stranger violently assaulted them at a local park, biting the child’s face and causing severe injuries that left the toddler too traumatized to leave her mother’s side.
Unprovoked Park Assault Leaves Child Injured
Atharva Vyas, a 24-year-old illegal alien, attacked 27-year-old Gabriella Perez and her young daughter on April 18, 2026, at a San Antonio park. According to police reports, Vyas grabbed Perez by the hair and punched her in the face, causing her to fall and drop her daughter. Witnesses reported that Vyas then attempted to gouge Perez’s eyes with his thumbs before turning his attention to the three-year-old child. The attacker bit the child’s face multiple times, causing severe injuries including the loss of two teeth. A brave bystander physically restrained Vyas until San Antonio Police Department officers arrived and arrested him at the scene.
Mother Describes Scene as Zombie Attack
Perez recounted the terrifying moments when Vyas attacked her family. She described how the large man overpowered her before assaulting her daughter. The mother compared the scene to a zombie movie as she watched the stranger bite her child’s face. The attack was completely unprovoked, and police confirmed Vyas had no prior connection to the victims. The child suffered facial injuries, lost two teeth, and now experiences severe emotional trauma. She refuses to attend daycare or be separated from her mother, clinging to Perez constantly since the attack.
Suspect Faces Multiple Charges
Authorities arrested Vyas and booked him into Bexar County Jail on multiple serious charges. He faces injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily injury, and illegal entry from a foreign nation. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to determine what motivated the brutal attack. The family has established a GoFundMe campaign to cover the child’s extensive medical bills, dental work, therapy sessions, and lost wages as Perez remains unable to work while providing constant care for her traumatized daughter.
Community Rallies Behind Victims
The attack has shocked the San Antonio community and raised concerns about public safety. Perez wrote in the fundraiser description that both she and her daughter are focused on healing physically and emotionally from the traumatic event that changed their lives. The child requires ongoing medical care, comfort, and reassurance as she recovers from the physical wounds and processes the psychological impact of the violent assault. Community members have begun contributing to help the family cover mounting expenses while Perez takes time away from work to care for her daughter during this difficult recovery period.
