DALLAS — Canada Rinaldi was looking forward to her wedding day, but a violent assault during her bachelorette trip has left her with physical and emotional scars just weeks before her big day.
Rinaldi, 27, who is from Oklahoma, was leaving a club in East Dallas when a stranger suddenly punched her in the face, she told WFAA, leaving her unconscious and seriously injured. The attack resulted in a broken nose, three broken teeth and eight stitches on her face.
“It’s just shocking. It’s hard to believe,” Rinaldi cried. “I feel like a lot of my experiences were taken away from me.”
Dashcam video captured the aftermath of the violent incident, showing the moments after Rinaldi was struck and fell to the pavement. Her bridesmaid, Kelly Peralta, who attempted to intervene, said she was also punched during the attack.
“It’s just so traumatic,” Peralta cried.
In the aftermath, Peralta launched a fundraiser to help Rinaldi cover mounting medical expenses, including hospital and ambulance bills and dental repairs before her wedding. You can access it here.
With her wedding just four weeks away, Rinaldi struggles to maintain her excitement. “I feel like I’m not excited to plan my wedding anymore,” she said through tears.
The suspect fled the scene, but Rinaldi remains hopeful that Dallas police will identify and apprehend him. And also, that she will be okay.
“I’m getting there. It’s hard, but I’ll be okay,” she said.
Anyone with information about the assault is encouraged to contact the Dallas Police Department.