Margot Kagan, 54, of Teaneck, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States underwent a liver transplant in March 2020. On July 29, 2020, she encountered Terri Thomas, 25, Hackensack, Bergen County inside a Staples store on Hackensack Avenue in Hackensack.

Inside the store, Kagan was using the copy machine when Thomas approached a nearby machine with her face mask pulled below her mouth. According to the older woman, she asked the younger woman to pull her face mask over her mouth and nose due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.

After a brief exchange of words, Thomas was allegedly so infuriated she grabbed Kagan’s cane and tossed the latter to the ground before leaving the store. Because of this, Kagan had a fractured tibia, which required a steel plate to be put in.

“Detectives Demetrius Carroll, Ioannis Papanikolaou, and James Han, in particular, all did a fantastic job,” Patch quoted Hackensack detective captain Darrin DeWitt as saying. “I also thank the Hackensack Staples store and the Staples corporate office for their cooperation, which was crucial in solving the case. I must add Staples’ employees immediately called 911 and tended to the victim within seconds of the assault. Unfortunately, the video clip that was released ends just prior to them helping her.”

Kagan recovered from her injuries at the Hackensack University Medical Center on Prospect Avenue in Hackensack. On August 4, 2020, Thomas was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated assault.

Thomas was released with a summons after her arrest. At 8:30 a.m. on August 24, 2020, she will appear in Central Judicial Municipal Court on Hudson Street in Hackensack.