~ Manhattan
~ Asian woman
~ 24 year old
~ at restaurant
Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, 44, her 21-year-old niece Tyonnie Keshay Rankin — both from Humble, Texas — and 49-year-old assistant Sally Rechelle Lewis of Houston presented their vaccination card to the hostess when they entered the restaurant. Tourists from Texas.
Moments later, three of Rankin’s male companions arrived at the restaurant, but only one was allowed to enter after two of the men failed to show ID that matched their vaccination cards. A scuffle then broke out between the women and the hostess after the women learned the men were denied entry. The hostess was allegedly punched and slapped in addition to having her necklace torn off her neck.
Carmine’s staff and other bystanders stepped in to help physically separate the women, and the female tourists were later taken to the police station. In a statement, the restaurant said it was a “shocking and tragic situation when one of our valued employees is assaulted for doing their job — as required by city policies — and trying to make a living.”