Easter Bunny Brawl at New Jersey Mall Caught on Video
Holiday photo session turns ugly after girl slips in chair
— -- The Easter bunny wasn’t so warm and welcoming yesterday at the Newport Centre mall in Jersey City. The furry mascot brawled with the parent of a small child brought to see him, which then escalated to a group conflict.
Two videos posted to Twitter captured the chaotic scene that occurred Sunday evening. The first video shows the 22-year-old man dressed as the Easter bunny fighting with another man. Mall security and bystanders break up the fight and the man dressed as the Easter Bunny walks away. But, about 10 seconds later, the man comes back, rips off his bunny gloves and starts swinging again.
In the next video, the fight escalates into a larger brawl with several people punching and kicking the costumed character. In the end, the fight is dispersed and security has restrained the man dressed as the Easter Bunny.
Earlier today, department spokesperson Jennifer Morrill told the Associated Press that the man dressed as the Easter bunny and the father of a 1-year-old child fought after the child slipped from a chair while taking photos with the rabbit.
Both men were taken to the JCMC-Barnabas Health for minor injuries, according to ABC station WABC-TV in New York.
"Following their investigation today, Jersey City detectives are charging both the Easter Bunny and the father of the child in the incident from the Newport Centre Mall on Sunday," Morrill told ABC News today.
The statement said that Kassim Charles, 22, of Bergen Avenue (the Easter Bunny) and Juan Jimenez-Guerrero, 44, of Bright Street, are both charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. They are detained at Hudson County Correctional Center.