A Bay Area mother is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man she says attacked her son at a Denny’s restaurant on Sunday leaving him with a pair of facial fractures and broken teeth. 

Paula Ibonie says the attack happened as her son was trying to help a restaurant employee.

Paula showed KRON4’s Haaziq Maydun photos of her 35-year-old son seriously injured after the violent altercation with the man.

The incident happened around 2:25 a.m. on Sunday at the Denny’s on Mowry Avenue.

Paula says her son was in the lobby waiting on a to-go order.

“When a guy came in and represented himself as a DoorDash driver and was verbally abusive to the staff,” Paula said. “Fred was still sitting down and said hey you need to calm down. You’re at Denny’s at three in the morning. They will get to you.”

She says her son works in the food service industry and was feeling some empathy for Denny’s staff.

“His whole point was don’t be rude to the workers,” Paula said.

According to the Fremont police, the incident started with an argument between a customer and restaurant employees. 

That’s when officials say Fred Ibonie tried to intervene. Paula says her son was the one struck and lost multiple teeth during the assault. 

Officials say Fred denied medical treatment while at Denny’s but was later taken to the hospital by family members.

“I get the phone call. When I showed up here my son was in the ambulance,” Paula said. “I hopped in the ambulance but he doesn’t have insurance so we hopped out and I drove him to the hospital.”

Fremont police investigators say although the suspect was overheard claiming to be a DoorDash employee, their investigation revealed that is not true. 

Paula says whoever he is, he needs to be behind bars before he hurts someone else. 

Fred does not have medical or dental insurance — A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover those expenses. 

“I’m just hoping that the community or whoever knows this guy will call Fremont police to help them get this guy off the street,” Paula said. “This is dangerous for everyone. If he will hit my son, why wouldn’t he hit someone else who works there.”

Police released surveillance images of the suspect on Tuesday. If you recognize the man or have any information, please contact the police department at (510) 790-6800 x3. 

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