Woman charged with pulling hair, punching victim at Popeyes with newborn baby caught in the middle

Woman charged with pulling hair, punching victim at Popeyes with newborn baby caught in the middle

BUSHNELL, Fla. – A newborn baby boy was front and center during a disturbance at a fast-food restaurant, and the young woman suspected of starting the violence is now charged with a felony.

The victim and the baby’s mother were at the counter of a Popeyes in Florida on Jan. 3, with the baby in his car seat on the counter.

The victim told a sheriff’s deputy, “She noticed that the defendant’s boyfriend’s vehicle had pulled into the parking lot.

“Shortly after,” the arrest report continued, “the defendant entered the business and stated ‘Really? Really?’

“Not knowing what the defendant was talking about, the victim replied ‘Yes,’ and turned around to take care of [the] newborn male.”

Then, “As [the] victim had her hands on [the] newborn male, the defendant walked up to her from behind and pulled her hair. At that time, the defendant stated, ‘Better watch your back because you’re about to get punched.’

Woman charged with pulling hair, punching victim at Popeyes with newborn baby caught in the middle
Desiree Orieta Sheppard was charged with child abuse without causing great bodily harm, which is a felony, and battery, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sumter Co. Sheriff’s Office)

“After making that statement, the defendant struck the victim in the face, causing a minor laceration on the victim’s nose. The defendant exited the business, entered her boyfriend’s [vehicle], and left the scene.”

An employee saw what happened.

SEE ALSO: Woman returned to punch dad, pull out mom’s hair over baby, report says

“She was preparing orders when she heard a commotion happening by the cash registers,” the arrest report said. “When Witness #1 turned around to see what was going on, she saw the defendant [punched] the victim in the face, while the victim was tending to [the] newborn male in his car seat that was on top of the cash register counter.”

She did not see how the incident started.

It turned out, the combatants had a history, and the victim must’ve told the deputy where the suspect lives because the deputy showed up at her home.

“According to the defendant,” the deputy wrote, “she had been washing a window on a truck at a Circle K gas station when the victim drove past her at a fast rate of speed, flipping her off and yelling at her. The victim then drove to Popeyes.

“Due to the victim’s rude behavior, the defendant and [her boyfriend] drove to Popeyes to confront the victim about her behavior.

“When the defendant entered the business, she waited until the victim had placed [the] newborn male into his car seat, and was not touching him. The defendant poked the victim’s shoulder to get her attention and talk to her.

“At this point, the victim quickly turned towards the [suspect] with her fists balled as if she was going to punch her.

“Due to both females having fought in the past, and due to the victim’s aggressive behavior that was displayed at the Circle K, the defendant believed that the victim was going to punch her.

“Thus, the defendant punched the victim out of fear of being punched, and exited the business.”

She was not arrested, at least not then, “due to conflicting stories of the subjects as to who the primary aggressor was, and the lack of video footage,” the deputy wrote.

But two days later, the deputy reported speaking to a second witness who is not described, but said, “She saw the defendant enter the store, pull on the victim’s hair from behind while she was holding the juvenile, and when the victim turned around, the defendant punched her in the face.

“According to Witness #2, the victim did not turn around fast, and turned slowly towards the defendant, due to the fact that she was holding the juvenile.”

Now, the deputy had heard enough and decided, “Based on the victim’s and independent witness statements, the victim’s visible injuries, and the suspect admitting to battering the victim, the defendant was charged with abuse of a child without great bodily harm,” which is a felony, and battery.

The deputy called Desiree Orieta Sheppard, “and advised that I needed to talk to her. The defendant then arrived to the South Sumter Sheriff’s Office, where she was taken into custody.”

Sheppard, 19, was released after almost 17 hours in jail in lieu of $1,500 bail. She was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

The victim’s relationship to the baby and his mom was never specified.


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