The Dallas County district attorney’s office will not prosecute a black woman charged with a felony following a confrontation with a white bartender who allegedly punched her several times and called her a “stupid [n-word].” “The case has been declined for prosecution,” a spokeswoman for the office told The Daily Beast on Wednesday, declining to elaborate. The decision comes after Dallas police on Tuesday evening sparked outrage by charging L’Daijohnique Lee, 24, with felony criminal mischief for allegedly smashing the windows of Austin Shuffield’s truck after he allegedly struck her multiple times. Video of the incident appears to show Shuffield punching her at least five times. Police now say Lee shattered a windshield on Shuffield’s car and is also at fault. “We understand that some people are upset,” Dallas Deputy Police Chief Thomas Castro said in a news conference Tuesday, when he announced the now-dropped charges.“It’s not the intention of the Dallas Police Department to pick one side or the other. We simply had information that was provided to us on a criminal offense.” Shuffield is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, after previously only being charged with misdemeanors. He is out free on bail.
