Video shows man assaulting woman in Deep Ellum
DALLAS - Police have arrested a 30-year-old man seen on video punching a woman several times in Deep Ellum.
Apparent road rage between two drivers in a parking lot got violent when they got out of their vehicles.
Austin Shuffield has been charged with assault and public intoxication for the incident that occurred just before 4:30 a.m. on Thursday.
According to Dallas police, the assault happened in the 2800 block of Elm St. The 24-year-old victim said she was stopped while driving the wrong way on Elm St. Shuffield then got out of his truck to ask her to move out of the way because she was blocking the parking lot exit.
The victim told police she moved her vehicle into the parking lot, then Shuffield got out of his truck, and there was an argument between the two.
The argument then turned into a fight, and video appears to show Shuffield pull out a gun. When the woman tried to dial 911, he put the gun away and slapped the cellphone out of her hand.
The video appears to show the woman strike him. He then punches her five times in the head, before kicking the phone away.
A witness with a cell phone caught him punching the woman he was arguing with.
Shuffield worked as a bartender for High and Tight Barbershop in Deep Ellum. After the video of the beating spread on social media, the business said he's now been fired.
Co-owner of High and Tight Barbershop, Braxton Martin, confirmed that Shuffield has been terminated. He added that they "don't know exactly what happened," but "what we've seen on social media is enough," and "we do not condone his actions."
Police say since Shuffield slapped the phone out of the woman's hand while she was trying to call 911, he's also charged with interfering with an emergency request for assistance. The three charges against him are all misdemeanors.
Police records indicate Shuffield has been released without having to post bond.
Morgan, who works down the street, said she's never seen anything like this before in Deep Ellum.
"I thought it was really awful to watch, but I work down here, I'm down here all the time. I've never seen anything like that," she said. "Seems more of an isolated, personal incident than anything that reflects the neighborhood."
Milia and Gene Lark are also Deep Ellum regulars, and believe the attack is not a reflection of the Deep Ellum neighborhood.
"If you're out at 4:30 a.m., it's nothing but trouble," Milia Lark said.
"There's nothing going on down here at that time of night, at 4, 4:30 in the morning. It's shut down so the only thing going on is trouble," Gene Lark added.