Vicious Attack Leaves Young Girl, 9, Severely Injured

A horrifying attack inside a crowded New Mexico restaurant has left a young girl seriously injured and a 24-year-old man facing years behind bars.

Nichalas San Souci was indicted last week after authorities say he violently assaulted an 8-year-old girl at Saggios, a popular restaurant in Albuquerque, simply because she was “in his way.”

The shocking incident happened on April 25, 2025. According to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, the child was admiring a waterfall inside the restaurant when San Souci allegedly smashed a glass beer bottle over her head and used the jagged glass to slice her neck. The girl suffered severe injuries and required 19 stitches.

Police say San Souci and the child had no prior connection, making the random nature of the attack even more disturbing.

The victim’s father, Britton Rose, shared the terrifying moment with local station KOAT. He recalled hearing his wife scream “No, no, stop!” from across the restaurant. When he reached his daughter, she was soaked in water and blood, and told him someone had come up behind her and attacked her with a beer bottle.

According to court documents, San Souci later admitted to the attack, telling investigators he lashed out because the child “got in my way.”

But the nightmare didn’t end there. Rose said that after the initial assault, San Souci allegedly pulled a knife and appeared to be targeting the child again.

“He pulled out a knife,” Rose said. “At first, I thought he might be coming after me, but then I saw his attention shift back to my daughter. I made sure to put myself between them.”

District Attorney Sam Bregman called the crime “so, so disturbing,” and confirmed that San Souci is facing multiple felony charges: first-degree child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

If convicted, San Souci could be sentenced to more than two decades behind bars. “He’s facing 22 and a half years,” Bregman said. “Eighteen of those years are mandatory if convicted of the child abuse charge.”

San Souci remains in custody at the Bernalillo County Jail without bond.