The family of an 8-year-old girl is still reeling after a shocking attack. During a typical family dinner at a local New Mexico pizzeria, they encountered a man named Nichalas San Souci. Without any sort of provocation, the man allegedly attacked the young girl. Her family maintains that she didn’t do anything to cause the attack.
Due to the number of witnesses, police soon caught San Souci. He is currently in police custody, but is maintaining his innocence.
The incident took place on April 25, 2025, at popular Albuquerque pizzeria, Saggio’s, KOAT reported. “There was a pretty long line,” the girl’s father, Britton Rose, told the news outlet. “So we knew it was going to be a while before we were able to order and sit down and eat.”
While they waited, his wife took their 8-year-old daughter inside the restaurant to look at their murals. “That’s when I heard my wife from across the restaurant yelling, ‘No, no, stop,’” he said. His wife’s screams made him realize something was very wrong.
According to court documents, Nichalas San Souci claimed the little girl was “in his way.” He then allegedly smashed a beer bottle over the girl’s head before using it to slash her throat. Rose maintains that his daughter didn’t do anything to provoke the attack.
“She did nothing. My daughter did nothing to provoke this attack in any way,” he said.
After the attack, witnesses, including an off-duty paramedic and an ICU nurse, rushed to help. They were able to apply pressure to the girl’s neck until first responders arrived. “She’s extremely lucky,” Rose said. “Major arteries were missed.” She received 19 stitches, but should recover.
San Souci, 24, appeared in court on May 19. He pleaded not guilty to charges of child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He will remain in police custody as the case progresses.
“I’m happy he’s being held behind bars. The [district attorney] has made it clear they’re taking the case very seriously,” Rose said. “We’re extremely lucky our daughter wasn’t hurt worse — or even killed. Because that’s what we feel he was trying to do.”
