LOS ANGELES — A downtown Los Angeles street vendor is recovering after a violent confrontation at her stand was captured on video and shared online.
The video, posted to Instagram on Sunday, appears to show an argument between a woman and the vendor. At one point, the woman is seen pouring hot sauce onto the vendor’s hot dogs, prompting the vendor to throw a red powder toward her. The dispute then quickly turns physical.
In the footage, the woman moves toward the vendor as the vendor tries to step away. The two fall to the ground, and the woman is seen striking the vendor in the back of the head, according to the video.
Bystanders rush in and attempt to break up the attack. As the vendor is helped to her feet and starts to walk away, the woman is seen approaching from behind and attacking her again, hitting her in the head and face before grabbing her by the hair and pulling her back to the ground.
Several people eventually intervene and pull the woman away as she appears to try to go after the vendor a third time.
A GoFundMe campaign created by the victim’s son identifies the street vendor as Arabelia Martinez.
The fundraiser describes Martinez as “a beautiful, hardworking street vendor in downtown Los Angeles.” The page continues, “My mom has dedicated herself to her work every single day, rain or shine, to provide for our family. She is one of the most resilient and loving people I know, and no one deserves what happened to her. The assault not only left her physically and emotionally shaken, but also resulted in damage to the items she works so hard to maintain.”
According to the fundraiser, donations will support Martinez’s therapy and recovery, allow her to take time away from work to heal, and help replace items damaged during the attack. Her cart, described as her livelihood, was also damaged.
The LAPD is investigating the incident.
The victim’s family says race may have been a factor. The longtime street vendor’s son says the unidentified woman began harassing his mother as she sold food near Figueroa and 7th streets, telling her to go back to Mexico and making racist comments.
Sebastian Gutierrez, who delivers for Uber Eats, says he couldn’t believe what happened.
“It was horrible. It really made me angry, myself, witnessing that. Worse than a lot of the others. I’ve seen other times people getting attacked, and what not here, but that really, it just feels so wrong. It’s just like, there’s no reason to be doing that at all,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez added that the woman appeared to have mental health issues or be under the influence.
“And then I see her suddenly push over all of the items of at least one of these vendor stands. Dozens of fruit cups, an entire hot dog cart,” said Gutierrez.
Police continue searching for the suspect.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
