A San Diego woman who was knocked down while using a movie rental kiosk says she can't stop looking over her shoulder and fears who may be behind her every time she steps out of the house.
Barbara McDonald was attacked at a Redbox kiosk on Feb. 15 outside a 7-Eleven store on Meade Avenue, just west of Interstate 805 in the North Park community.
Video of the attack shows McDonald using the kiosk when a man shoves her to the side, sending her to the ground.
"I just can't believe somebody came up to me and did something like that," McDonald said. "Somebody who does something like that, there is no telling what he would do to someone else."
San Diego police say it's not just rude, it's a crime.
Mid City Division police are on the lookout for the man who pushed her, but so far have only a few leads. Unfortunately for investigators, the recording does not have a clear image of the man's face.
Meanwhile, McDonald is coming forward for the first time in hopes someone can help catch the man who hurt her.
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"I still can't understand why," McDonald said. "I want to ask him why he did that. Because it scares me."
McDonald is a hotel security guard by trade. Her head is normally on a swivel at work, but that Thursday night she was focused on the Redbox movie selections.
"Someone came up behind me and said 'Can I go ahead of you?' and I said 'I am just putting the promo in right now and I'll be out of your way,'" McDonald said.
The security camera footage indicates the man waited for a little over a minute before losing his patience, and temper. Twice her size, he knocked McDonald to the ground.
"I can walk out my door, just go down to the corner and get knocked to the ground like that," McDonald said.
While she lay there in the parking lot, the man took a turn at the kiosk. After a witness confronted him, the man walked away with movies in hand.
"I got scraped up a little bit. It hurts your muscle more when you are my age," McDonald said.
A review of the security recording was little help to McDonald who only heard the man, but never turned to see his face.
The attack happened just before 9 p.m., which is the deadline to return Redbox movies without incurring a late charge.
McDonald says while the suspect didn't say he was trying to beat the clock, she thinks that's what triggered his violent behavior.
NBC 7 contacted the company Redbox and received the following statement:
"Redbox has been in contact with the San Diego Police Department to assist in this investigation. Out of respect for the investigation process, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time."
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the San Diego Police Department through the non-emergency phone number at (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154.
