California DA's Controversial Decision: Dismissing Felony Charge Against Homeless Man in Brutal Attack

Relatives of a couple viciously assaulted outside a McDonald's drive-thru express outrage over District Attorney George Gascón's plan to reduce charges against the homeless suspect, claiming it sends the wrong message and fails to hold him accountable for the severe consequences his actions had on the victims.

In the wake of a horrifying attack outside a Los Angeles McDonald's drive-thru, the victims' family is reeling from the news that the suspect, a homeless man, could face only misdemeanor charges.

Relatives of Jose Juan Rangel Hernandez, 74, and Maria Guadalupe Vargas Luna, 58, are outraged by the decision of District Attorney George Gascón, who is accused of trying to reduce the charges in line with his progressive criminal justice reforms.

California DA's Controversial Decision: Dismissing Felony Charge Against Homeless Man in Brutal Attack

Veronica Rangel, the victims' daughter, expressed her shock and frustration on "Fox & Friends Weekend."

"He's just going to walk free with no consequence," she lamented. "They have to look at it with the human touch of the damages that this man has caused our family."

California DA's Controversial Decision: Dismissing Felony Charge Against Homeless Man in Brutal Attack

During the March assault, the suspect, Charles Green, allegedly punched Hernandez through the car door window, leaving him with a fractured eye socket and broken nose. Vargas Luna, who is diabetic and partially blind, attempted to intervene but fell and suffered a heart attack en route to the hospital.

Despite Vargas Luna's subsequent complications and brain death, Gascón's office is reportedly set to file a motion to dismiss the felony count against Green, leaving only the misdemeanor battery charge.

California DA's Controversial Decision: Dismissing Felony Charge Against Homeless Man in Brutal Attack

"They kind of made it seem like it was her fault for getting out of the car and trying to defend my grandpa," said William Cantabrana, the victims' grandson.

The family's anger stems from the belief that the reduced charges downplay the severity of the attack and fail to hold Green accountable for his actions. Gascón's office maintains that the evidence does not support an intentional act that resulted in Vargas Luna's fall.

California DA's Controversial Decision: Dismissing Felony Charge Against Homeless Man in Brutal Attack

However, critics argue that the decision sends the wrong message to potential criminals, suggesting that they can escape serious consequences even for violent offenses.

"I feel helpless," Rangel said. "We have to fight with the district attorney for them to do their job."

The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of Gascón's criminal justice reforms, which have been criticized by some for being too lenient. Gascón is currently facing a recall effort over his handling of similar cases.

For the victims' family, the reduced charges represent a cruel irony: the man who allegedly shattered their lives could potentially walk free with minimal punishment.

"It's just a slap in the face," Cantabrana said. "They let the bad guy go, and they let the good guy suffer."