A woman who lost part of her finger after a parking dispute at a suburban mall over the weekend was released from the hospital on Monday.
"I'm extremely angry," said 42-year-old Tonya Knight-Joseph. "I'm pissed off! This is my livelihood. Now I can't go to work. This affects my cooking and my showering. This is everything I do every single day."
Police say a woman confronted Knight-Joseph on Saturday around 4:45 p.m. over a parking space in the lot of the Nordstrom's department store in the Cherry Hill Mall. Knight-Joseph told NBC10 on Monday that she didn't steal the woman's spot and that she never even exchanged words or hand gestures with the suspect before she was approached.
"She got out of her car, cursed me out and came over," Knight-Joseph said. "She hit me and bit my finger."
Knight-Joseph's finger was bitten nearly down to the bone and she was transported to Cooper University Hospital. She was released on Monday but says she could lose 2 months at work due to her injury. She also says she should find out next week if the tip of her finger will have to be completely amputated.
"This was egregious," said Cherry Hill Police Lieutenant Amy Winters. "You don't see something like this usually, even in the Holiday shopping season when parking is a premium. This was a Saturday at 4:45."
Police released surveillance pictures of the suspect and another woman entering the Nordstrom's Store immediately after the assault occurred.
"i guess she had a grandiose time at the mall while I had to get an ambulance," Knight-Joseph said.
The suspect is described as a heavy-set woman in her mid-30's. The woman who entered the store with her is described as a skinny woman wearing a light-colored shirt, dark jacket and sunglasses.
Police also say they may have been driving in an older model Audi sedan.
If you have the identity of either woman, please contact the Cherry Hill Police Dept. at 856-488-7828.
Photo Credit: NBC10.com