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New Jersey woman, 25, is arrested after 'attacking recent liver transplant recipient, 54, in Staples store and breaking her leg' when she was asked to wear her pulled-down mask over her mouth

A New Jersey woman has been arrested for allegedly knocking down a liver transplant recipient and breaking her leg during a dispute over a...

A New Jersey woman has been arrested for allegedly knocking down a liver transplant recipient and breaking her leg during a dispute over a face mask at a store.
The Hackensack Police Department on Tuesday announced the arrest of Terri Thomas, 25, on an aggravated assault charge in connection to the violent attack on 54-year-old Margot Kagan, which took place inside a Staples store on July 29.
According to investigators, Kagan was using a fax machine at the office supply store in Hackensack when a woman, later identified as Thomas, approached a machine next to her. 

Police in Hackensack, New Jersey, have arrested the woman seen in this surveillance video approaching an older woman using a fax machine at a local Staples
Police in Hackensack, New Jersey, have arrested the woman seen in this surveillance video approaching an older woman using a fax machine at a local Staples 
Police say Margot Kagan, 54, seen raising her cane, asked Terri Thomas, 25, to put on her mask, which allegedly made the younger woman angry
Police say Margot Kagan, 54, seen raising her cane, asked Terri Thomas, 25, to put on her mask, which allegedly made the younger woman angry 
Video from the Hackensack Staples store shows Thomas knock Kagan down
Video from the Hackensack Staples store shows Thomas knock Kagan down 

Thomas had a face mask on that was pulled down below her mouth, as seen in viral surveillance video.  
Thomas was arrested on Tuesday and charged with aggravated assault stemming from the Staples fracas
Thomas was arrested on Tuesday and charged with aggravated assault stemming from the Staples fracas 
Police said Kagan, who underwent a liver transplant four months ago and was walking with the aid of a cane, asked Thomas to put her mask over her mouth, reported ABC 7 NY.
Kagan's request allegedly sent Thomas into a rage and she yelled profanities at her before hurling the older woman to the ground.   
Video of the clash has been viewed on Hackensack Police Department's Facebook page more than 313,000 times as of Wednesday afternoon. 
It begins with Thomas marching up to Kagan with her finger pointed at the woman and having some words with her.
Kagan, who is seen wearing a black mask and a plastic visor over her face to protect herself from the spread of COVID-19, backs away and tries to create distance between herself and Thomas by raising her cane in front of her. 
Kagan was left laying on the floor in the middle of the store after breaking her leg
Kagan was left laying on the floor in the middle of the store after breaking her leg
As Thomas was walking by a second time, Kagan unsuccessfully tried to trip her
As Thomas was walking by a second time, Kagan unsuccessfully tried to trip her 
Thomas then grabs the woman's cane, yanks it out of her hands and throws Kagan to the floor before walking away. 
Several people, including Staples employees, are seen standing around looking at the injured woman laying on the floor, but no one immediately comes to her aid.  
Thomas then returns and walks past Kagan, who unsuccessfully tries to trip her with her foot.   
Capt. Darrin DeWitt, of Hackensack police, stressed that Staples staffers did call 911 and tended to the victims moments later, but their efforts were not captured on video. 
Kagan underwent a liver transplant four months ago
She landed in the hospital again last week to be treated for a broken left tibia
Kagan underwent a liver transplant four months ago. She landed in the hospital again last week to be treated for a broken left tibia (right)
Kagan was later taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a fractured left tibia that required surgery to put a steel plate inside her knee.
Speaking to News 12 New Jersey from her hospital bed, Kagan said Thomas lunged at her after she told her that she was endangering everyone by refusing to wear her mask properly.  
The victim said she was told by her doctors that she will not be able to put weight on her left leg for up to 10 weeks. 
Following her arrest, Thomas was released with a summons. She is due back in court on August 24. 

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