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Teen arrested in McDonald’s attack plays college football

Posted at 7:30 PM, Jan 08, 2014
and last updated 2014-01-09 15:32:23-05

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR)- It was a sudden and vicious attack inside the McDonald’s restaurant in Henrico's West End.

The two teens responsible have been arrested and charged, according to Henrico Police.

One is a juvenile and the other is a 19-year-old Rashaan Bates. Bates who is a linebacker for the Ferrum College football team.

Bates is charged with Assault by Mob, accused in the Dec. 28 beating a customer at the McDonald's near the intersection of West Broad St. and Glenside Dr.

Bates and the teenager approached a 40-year-old man sitting at a table inside the McDonald’s and assaulted him, police said. The suspects then ran outside to a waiting car and drove off.

On Monday, nine days after the attack, Bates and the 17-year-old suspect turned themselves in.

Davina Bishop lives across the street from the McDonald’s and said she's known the victim since she was a child.

“I heard they had it on camera, so I had a feeling they would get caught--I knew it was coming. They hit him in the back of the head and knocked him out. Well, we heard that it was a bunch of young guys harassing an older guy at McDonald’s,” she said. “When I was a teenager I didn’t do anything like that. I was devastated. It was horrible. Why mess with this older man who messes with no one.”

Davina said she has not seen the victim since the attack.

Bates, who lives across the street from Henrico Police headquarters, has a rap sheet that includes larceny and driving an unlicensed motor vehicle.

The 19-year-old Hermitage High School graduate is a freshmen linebacker for the Ferrum College Panthers.  We’ve reached out to both the head coach and Athletic Director at Ferrum College, and are still waiting for a call back.

Davina Bishop delivers a stern message to parents and their children who break the law.

“I feel really bad. It is sad,” she said. “Teach your kids to respect their elders and not harass people because you’re going to go to jail. Plain and simple.”

A bond hearing for Bates will be held on Thursday.