Seattle police referred the case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for possible hate crime offense and felony assault charges.
A 36-year-old woman has been charged with second-degree assault after prosecutors say she used racist and homophobic language before biting a chunk of flesh from another woman’s forehead in downtown Seattle.
Charging documents filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office identify the defendant as Kamilia Chadli. Police said the victim, Diana Gonzalez, was left with permanent injuries and required a skin graft to close the wound.
The attack was reported about 3:45 p.m. Sept. 18 near Third Avenue and Cherry Street. Gonzalez said she was walking along Third Avenue to a 7-Eleven for a beverage near her workplace when the attack happened, according to charging documents.
“This was a totally random attack," said Gonzalez. "She started yelling racist things after throwing trash and spitting on me. Then she bit my face — she bit a piece of my face off.”
Gonzalez told officers she was walking past a woman, later identified as Chadli, when Chadli threw a food wrapper at her. When Gonzalez asked why, Chadli allegedly yelled, “You’re the inferior race,” used a homophobic slur, and spit on the victim, according to charging documents.
The women were strangers, prosecutors said.
“I don’t know this person," said Gonzalez. "I’ve never seen them before in my life.”
Prosecutors allege Chadli then pulled the victim to the ground and bit off a circular piece of skin about 1 inch in diameter from her forehead.
A nearby worker witnessed the assault, separated the women and followed Chadli toward the King County Courthouse, where a King County marshal detained her, according to charging documents.
An image of the woman whose face was bitten in downtown Seattle on Sept. 18, 2026. (Courtesy: Diana Gonzalez)Responding officers found blood on the sidewalk and the piece of flesh in a storm drain, police said. Gonzalez later identified Chadli through the courthouse doors, telling officers, “That’s her, 100%,” according to court documents.
“I can’t believe she bit a piece of my face off," said Gonzalez. "That’s the main thing that is still shocking. I can’t believe it.”
Seattle Fire evaluated Gonzalez before she was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment, according to charging documents. Gonzalez was scheduled to undergo a skin graft Sept. 22 to close the wound. Prosecutors said she will have a permanent scar from the attack.
“I’m just concerned that she would do it again because it was so random," said Gonzalez. "It didn’t make any sense.”
An image of the woman whose face was bitten in downtown Seattle on Sept. 18, 2026. (Courtesy: KCPAO)Though Chadli was arrested on suspicion of a hate crime offense and booked into the King County Jail, prosecutors charged her with second-degree assault, alleging she intentionally assaulted the victim and recklessly inflicted substantial bodily harm.
Chadli is currently not charged with a hate crime, but that charge could later be added to the case if the evidence can support it.
Prosecutors asked the court to maintain Chadli’s bail at $150,000, citing the severity of the injuries and concerns she could commit another violent offense if released.
“I would like for the charge not to be lessened," said Gonzalez. "I would like that if she did take a plea, she would still have to serve a lengthy sentence and get additional therapy or help in jail or prison, just so she wouldn’t reoffend.”
