A San Antonio mother watched in terror as a stranger punched her in the face, grabbed her three-year-old daughter, and bit the child’s face in an unprovoked park attack that left the toddler with severe injuries requiring extensive medical care and psychological treatment.
Unprovoked Attack at San Antonio Park
Gabriella Perez, 27, was at a San Antonio park with her family on April 18, 2026, when 24-year-old Atharva Vyas approached without warning. According to police reports and court records, Vyas grabbed Perez by the hair and punched her in the face, causing her to fall and drop her young daughter. Witnesses reported that Vyas then attempted to gouge Perez’s eyes with his thumb before turning his attack on the three-year-old child. The assault escalated when Vyas pinned the toddler to the ground and began biting her face.
Perez later described the scene as resembling a zombie movie. A bystander physically restrained Vyas until San Antonio Police Department officers arrived and arrested him at the scene. The child suffered severe facial injuries, including the loss of two teeth, and now requires ongoing medical treatment, dental work, and psychological therapy. Police confirmed that Vyas had no prior connection to the victims and the attack was completely random.
Serious Criminal Charges Filed
Vyas faces multiple felony charges including injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily injury, and illegal entry from a foreign nation. He was booked into Bexar County Jail following his arrest. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what motivated the violent assault. The San Antonio Police Department has not released additional details about Vyas’s background or immigration status beyond confirming he entered the country illegally.
Family Seeks Support for Recovery
The traumatic attack has left lasting effects on both mother and daughter. The three-year-old child now refuses to attend daycare or be separated from her mother, clinging to Perez constantly. The psychological impact has forced Perez to take time away from work to provide round-the-clock care and comfort. The family established a fundraising campaign to cover mounting medical bills, dental reconstruction, therapy sessions, and lost wages during the recovery period. Perez wrote that the attack changed their lives and they are focused on helping her daughter heal both physically and emotionally from the horrific ordeal.
