A fundraiser was held Sunday for the family of a 10-year-old boy with autism, who was seen on camera getting slapped in the face by a man in Pacoima earlier this month.
The community has rallied behind young Alfredo Morales and his family since the July 1 incident, where he reached out and touched the emblem on a man’s Mercedes-Benz while he and his older sister were crossing the street in a crosswalk.
The motorist then made a U-turn and pulled up to the bus stop where the siblings were sitting. After checking out his car, the man is seen walking over to the 10-year-old and slapping him in the face, even as Alfredo’s sister explained that her brother has special needs.
The story, which was first reported on KTLA, sparked outrage and an outpouring of support for the family of four, who had been living in their broken-down truck at a park in the area ever since Alfredo’s father, Miguel Morales, lost his job at a restaurant.
“We’re here for Alfredito,” said Marco Reynoso with Choncy Chorizo , who was helping raise funds for the family in Sun Valley Sunday. “We’re here to make sure we can serve as much as we can to the community so that we can get as much donations as we can to give to the family.”
Alexander Orozco said the unfortunate incident with Alfredo touched him on many levels, some very personal.
“It touched me because of the fact that he’s autistic,” he told KTLA’s Gene Kang. “I have a son that’s high-functioning autistic. You know, it’s my backyard. I grew up in Pacoima.”
Because of the attention the incident has garnered, the Morales family has been able to get out of their truck and into temporary housing.
“We saw the video that was posted, and it broke our heart,” Laura Diaz, who came out to support the family, said. “We’re out here supporting as much as we can.”
Rapper Swifty Blue was also in attendance at the fundraiser, with a plan to get the family’s truck up and running.
“I told them we’re going to fix the transmission, rebuild it, whatever it takes,” he explained. “We’re going to help them get mobile.”
Local housing officials are also helping the family get into more permanent housing while an attorney is offering services to help the family seek justice for what happened to Alfredo.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help the resilient family get back on their feet.
KTLA has reached out to the motorist believed to have been involved in the incident, though has not heard back.