A New Mexico man, aged 24, has been accused of a brutal attack on an 8-year-old girl at a local restaurant, leaving her with severe injuries that required hospitalization and over a dozen stitches. The man, identified as Nichalas San Souci, was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury last week on charges including child abuse resulting in significant bodily harm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident occurred on April 25, 2025, at Saggios, a popular restaurant located on Cornell Drive, according to a statement from the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. The young girl was reportedly admiring a waterfall inside the restaurant when San Souci allegedly struck her over the head with a beer bottle and then used the broken bottle to cut her neck. The severity of the injuries necessitated 19 stitches.
The authorities have confirmed that the victim and San Souci were not acquainted before the incident. The girl’s father, Britton Rose, shared more about the horrifying event in an interview with a local ABC affiliate. He found his daughter drenched and in distress, who then recounted the shocking ordeal of being attacked from behind with a beer bottle.
Rose recalled that the restaurant was bustling with patrons when they arrived. While waiting for a table, his wife and daughter decided to explore the restaurant’s murals and other interior decorations. It was during this time that the attack occurred. Rose described hearing his wife’s panicked cries from across the restaurant, signaling that something was wrong with their family.
Court documents reveal that after striking the child with the bottle, San Souci proceeded to stab and cut her with the remaining shards. He reportedly told the authorities that he attacked the girl because she was obstructing his path. Following the assault, Rose stated that San Souci brandished a knife, initially appearing to threaten him but then redirecting his attention towards the injured girl.
District Attorney Sam Bregman expressed his shock and disgust at the incident, stating that San Souci could potentially face decades in prison for his alleged actions. “The individual was indicted for first-degree child abuse, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,” Bregman told the local station. “He’s facing 22 and a half years. If he’s convicted of that child abuse, that is mandatory 18 years.”
San Souci is currently detained in Bernalillo County Jail without the possibility of bond, according to jail records.