In Oshawa, Ontario, two teenagers have been charged in connection with an alleged assault on the owner of a Pizza Pizza restaurant, which occurred after she attempted to intervene in a theft. The incident took place at the pizza establishment located at 199 Wentworth St. W. around 12:30 a.m. on July 2, 2025, when the owner confronted one of the suspects who had reportedly jumped behind the counter to steal cans of soda.
During the confrontation, a violent struggle ensued, as multiple individuals allegedly swarmed the victim and assaulted her. Among the identified suspects, a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl have been charged with assault causing bodily harm. Additionally, a 13-year-old boy has been identified and is currently wanted for multiple charges, including assault causing bodily harm, obstructing police, and failing to comply with a release order. An 11-year-old male has also been identified as a suspect; however, he cannot be charged due to his age.
Authorities have described one female suspect, who remains unidentified, as a Black teenager with a thin build, long braids, and between 12 and 15 years old. At the time of the incident, she was reportedly wearing a grey T-shirt, spandex grey pants, and black sandals. The investigation is ongoing, and while Durham police have indicated that there is no current evidence to suggest that hate was an aggravating factor in the assault, the nature of the attack has raised significant concerns.
Ferry Bansal, an employee at the Pizza Pizza, shared details of the incident, highlighting that the victim, who is in her 40s and Muslim, had her hijab violently removed during the altercation. Although Bansal did not report hearing any racial slurs during the assault, she expressed that the act of removing the hijab was “totally racist.” Following the incident, the victim was repeatedly punched and stomped upon, sustaining injuries for which she is now recovering at home.
This incident has sparked discussions about youth violence and the safety of individuals in vulnerable positions, especially following a wave of similar incidents reported in Oshawa. As the police continue their investigation, they are urging anyone with information regarding the unidentified female suspect or additional details about the assault to come forward.
