WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — A Jefferson Hills man is facing assault charges after police say he hit another person at a West Mifflin Target after a mask comment.
Gage N. Kato, 25, was charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor simple assault after the incident at the store on Lebanon Church Road in West Mifflin on April 10.
According to the criminal complaint, Kato assaulted a man who was shopping in the store.
The victim, Jake Forsyth, told Channel 11 that the incident started when he muttered to himself that his mask was uncomfortable.... and a woman nearby overheard what he said and thought he was talking about her mask. He was then assaulted by a man who was with the woman, he said.
According to the criminal complaint a witness says they saw the woman walk up to man she was with in the store who the then immediately came over to Forsyth and yelled “you wanna fight?”
The witness then reported she heard the assault and looked over to see Forsyth fall to the floor.
“That’s when I turned around and that’s all I remember,” he said. “They said the reason why I was knocked out so cold was that I smacked my forehead right on the ground, like hard.”
Police said Forsyth suffered a severe concussion, cuts to his face and sinus fractures. A nurse who witnessed the assault helped Forsyth, after she said it appeared he had a seizure after falling to the floor.
The complaint states that after the assault, Gato and the woman he was with left the store with three children. He was identified through witness statements and security video.
It’s been a long road to recovery for Forsyth. And a month later he is still suffering from some visible bruises, and still recovering from the concussion.
He said it was only about a week and a half ago when he was allowed to do some light driving, and could be allowed back to work next week.
“Sometimes it really hits me and I can’t believe that this actually happened and other times it seems like a dream almost,” he said. “I’m just glad that the guy was finally caught, I was a little worried there for a while that they weren’t going find him.”
Gato is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 10.
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