SAN ANTONIO — Pulled by the hair and punched in the head.
That's what one woman says she experienced while waiting for a movie to start at a San Antonio theater.
The victim shared her story exclusively with KENS 5 under condition of anonymity.
The victim, who calls this an unprovoked attack, says the incident happened Monday at around 6 p.m. at the Santikos Palladium theater off I-10 near 1604. It's the same place where another random attack happened in 2021.
The person responsible in Monday's has yet to be found.
According to a San Antonio Police report, officers were told by Palladium management that the suspect got in the theater without a ticket.
"I was going to see Longlegs and I still have yet to see that movie. I was so excited!" the victim told KENS 5.
Monday, she arrived early for the movie and noticed just one other person inside the theater at the time.
"I see there's an older woman sitting in the far back corner of the theater and she's kind of slumped over," she explained. "It looked like she's sleeping."
The victim took her seat, then noticed the other woman starting to walk through the row behind her.
"She comes up to me and then she starts talking to me. She's like, 'Is your name Cara?' I said, 'No, I'm sorry.' I thought she had me mixed up with somebody else. I've never seen this woman in my entire life. Then she says, 'Oh, well you look like one.'"
The lady returned to the back row.
The victim thought the exchange was a little weird, but she brushed it off. What happened next, made her realize something was wrong.
"She gets up and she sits in the seat directly behind me."
The victim messaged her mother, saying she was frightened.
Seconds later, the woman behind her attacked.
"Right as I was about to explain [to my mom] what was happening, I feel her grab the back of my hair and she just starts pulling and punching me repeatedly. I had pretty nasty welts up here [on my head], it was awful. It was so, so, so scary. I'm trying to hit her back or kick her just to defend myself."
She screamed for help. Other movie goers yelled at the attacker to stop.
"As they start yelling at her, she gets off and goes down the stairs. I was like is she just gonna leave? She just runs out the fire exit right next to the screen and that's it."
The victim says she suffered a concussion. She got several welts on her head, bruising on her legs, and possibly a fractured finger.
She said two women who just entered the theater shortly before the attack helped give authorities the suspect's description.
"They were telling the managers and the security officer who was there, 'This is what she looks like. She ran out that door!' They were the voice I needed in that moment."
A security guard tried finding the suspect, but no luck.
We asked if the victim remembers anything about her attacker. She recalls a Hispanic woman carrying a backpack. Although the description isn't too detailed, the victim is confident she could pinpoint the suspect out of a lineup.
Santikos Entertainment's website states that bags or purses larger than 12" x 6" x 12" are not permitted into theaters, except for medical bags and diaper bags which are subject to search.
"This shouldn't have even been a possibility, you know? I just get so spooked, what was in that backpack? I just feel like this could have been much worse for me," said the victim.
Last year, a man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after stabbing a woman in the hallway of the Palladium in 2021. Prosecutors called the attack unprovoked. The woman survived, but suffered permanent disability in her right arm.
"I want them to find whoever this is because she's clearly not in a good headspace," the victim added. "I want this person who obviously needs help to be found so they can get help and not be a danger to other people."
She said Santikos refunded her for the ticket and concessions.
Her concern now is what will happen next. She wonders if there be any additional security at the theater, or perhaps a more rigorous ticket-checking protocol.
We reached out to Santikos at around 2:30 Friday afternoon to ask those questions and we're waiting to hear back.
A report was filed with SAPD, who says this is an ongoing investigation. They declined to provide surveillance video.
If you have any information on the suspect, call police.