The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday on a Go Rio river cruise. Police said it started when the boat operator asked the suspect to lower her phone volume.
SAN ANTONIO — A woman pepper-sprayed eight people aboard a river cruise boat along the San Antonio River Walk on Saturday night, according to police.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on a Go Rio river cruise. Police say the woman became upset after being asked by the boat operator to lower the volume on her cell phone.
Video posted to TikTok by the user “Fatigued in America,” which has garnered millions of views, shows the suspect yelling as she steps off the boat. Pepper spray appears to be hanging from her purse.
Moments later, witnesses say, the woman walked onto a nearby bridge and sprayed passengers on the boat. One clip appears to show a child among the victims.
A nearby gift shop employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity said it was the worst incident she has seen in her four years working at the River Walk.
“You don’t really expect anything like that to happen,” she said. “You expect to have a good time with your family and everything, not get attacked.”
She recalled that police arrived quickly, but the suspect got away.
“I hope they catch her because that’s so messed up,” the gift shop employee said. “She pepper-sprayed a baby.”
San Antonio police are investigating the case as an assault and confirm they have copies of the videos shared online. As of Monday, no arrests have been made and the suspect has not been publicly identified.
KENS 5 reached out to Go Rio for comment but has not received a response.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Antonio Police Department.