A viral clip showing a Morehouse College student attacking a Clark Atlanta University student has jolted Atlanta’s HBCU community, sparking widespread outrage and calls for swift action. Police say the footage, recorded outside an off-campus apartment complex, led to immediate charges, including aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.
According to police records, officers responded to 120 Luckie Street NW around 6:30 p.m. on November 20 after reports that a confrontation had broken out on a Georgia State University shuttle. The dispute began when a woman asked a man to apologize after he stepped on her foot, a moment that escalated sharply when his partner intervened. Witnesses told investigators the conflict intensified so quickly that other passengers tried to separate the group.
The suspect, 21-year-old Matthew Gonzales Forestine, was later taken into custody and booked into Fulton County Jail under the name Matthew Dave Gonzales Forestine. The altercation unfolded near The Legacy at Centennial Apartments and rapidly drew online attention. Clark Atlanta junior Kayla Bryant shared a video of the incident, and it quickly generated an outpouring of anger from students, alumni, and parents.
In her account, Bryant said she initially moved seats on the shuttle to avoid the couple’s behavior but encountered Forestine again as she tried to exit the bus.
“He steps on me and I say, ‘Excuse me, can you apologize?’” Bryant said in her video. “And he didn’t respond.” She added that the dispute escalated when his girlfriend confronted her, leading to a physical struggle during which Forestine allegedly placed her in a chokehold. “He lifted me off the ground and started strangling me. I couldn’t breathe,” she recalled, saying he also threatened her life during the assault.
Universities Condemn Attack, Pledge Student Safety
The video has since surged across social media, drawing more than 2 million views by Sunday and tens of thousands of shares.
In a statement, Clark Atlanta University President George T. French Jr. condemned the attack and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to protecting its students. “As President of this institution, my foremost concern is for our students’ safety and wellbeing,” he said. “This reprehensible act of violence against a young woman is unacceptable and has no place in our community.” French said the university is working closely with law enforcement and partner schools as the inquiry moves forward.
Morehouse College also released a strong response. President Dr. F. DuBois Bowman emphasized the college’s values and its intolerance for any form of violence. “As a father of four children including two daughters … it is crucial we adhere to our foundational principles,” Bowman wrote, noting that measures are in place to safeguard students throughout the investigation.
Both institutions are coordinating with Atlanta police as the case progresses, calling for a thorough review and appropriate consequences. CAU officials said they remain in contact with Bryant, her family, and Morehouse administrators while continuing to support students affected by the incident.
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