Man seen knocking down 88-year-old woman outside of southwest Houston H-E-B

Charly Edsitty Image
Friday, May 24, 2019
88-year-old woman punched in face outside H-E-B
Surveillance video shows a man near a flower cart hit Mary Rutkowski, knocking her to the ground outside the Buffalo Speedway store in early March.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Police are searching for a man seen on video punching an 88-year-old woman outside of a H-E-B in southwest Houston.

The assault was captured on surveillance video, showing Mary Rutkowski getting knocked to the ground outside the store on Buffalo Speedway on March 8.

Rutkowski was seen leaving the store with her daughter when a man standing near a flower display hit her on the head.

"I want to know why," said Rutkowski. "Why he would pick me, of all people? I can't understand why anybody would hurt another person, especially an elderly person."

Rutkowski's daughter, Annette Stewart, turned around to help as the suspect walked away pushing a wheelchair.

"She just kept saying, 'He hit me! He hit me!' and I said, 'Who?'" said Stewart. "The (grocery store) sacker, who was pushing our groceries out, pointed to the guy, and said he was the one who hit her."

In the video, a black bag was seen near Rutkowski's feet, which is believed to belong to the suspect.

Police say they have not made any arrests yet, but believe the suspect has a prosthetic leg.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact police.

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