Support for the homeless family of a boy with autism who was slapped by a man for touching his car has continued spreading across the community.

The incident happened on July 1 as Alfredo Morales, 10, and his older sister, Claudia Morales, were crossing the street in Pacoima.

That’s when Alfredo reached out and touched the emblem on the man’s Mercedes-Benz sedan.
The man made an immediate U-turn and followed the siblings to a bus stop. He stepped out, walked over to Alfredo who was sitting on a bench and slapped him.

His sister tried intervening and explained that Alfredo had autism, but the man still struck the boy.

Cell phone video of the confrontation went viral on social media, leaving community members outraged. A police report was also filed by the family.

Alfredo’s family is homeless and lives out of a broken truck at a Sun Valley park. The boy’s father, Miguel Morales, recently lost his job at a restaurant and is struggling to make ends meet.

Following a successful GoFundMe campaign and fundraising event, the Morales family said they were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of strangers.

On July 12, their broken pickup truck was towed to a local dealership, Airport Marina Ford, for a complete makeover. 

“It’s situations like this when you see it and if there’s something you can do, it’s imperative to step up and do what you can,” said Dan Theroux, General Manager of Airport Marina Ford.

Alfredo and his sister ride the bus daily to make a food and grocery run for the family. They were taking their usual bus route on July 1 when the confrontation happened. Many community members resonated with the story and wanted to support the Morales family in any way they could.

Oscar Garcia from Smack Auto Collision Center will be repainting the broken truck once a mechanical overhaul is done. He said he’s glad he can help turn an upsetting situation into a positive one.

“I’m shocked as to how many people have come out here to show their love and support,” Garcia said. “From the gentleman who came down so that Alfredo could enjoy the AC in his car, to the Ford Dealership assisting us with the truck and transmission. Our goal is that they become a stable family where they have somewhere safe to be at, sleep at night and they’re able to transport places without a problem.”

The Morales family is staying at a motel temporarily until local housing officials can help them transition into more permanent housing.

The family said they plan to give back in some way and show their appreciation to everyone who has helped them so far. 

As for the driver who slapped Alfredo, many upset residents have shown up at the man’s home to demand answers.

KTLA has reached out to the driver involved but has not received a response. No charges have been filed yet by the Los Angeles Police Department.

A GoFundMe to help the Morales family can be found here.