Winston Salem Times

The effects of an assault can linger long after the day of the incident.

Such is the case for Michael Scottodifrega, 36, a Winston-Salem restaurant owner who was punched and stomped on by a customer in early December. 

“That whole five minutes, I’d say, that it was in reality, almost seemed like an hour long,” Scottodifrega told NBC 12 News. “It would not stop.” 

And the trauma continues to haunt him today.

Winston-Salem police were called to a reported fight that was happening at Brother's Pizzeria on Fourth Street around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 5. The call indicated that several men and women were fighting inside and outside of the restaurant. When police arrived, they found Scottodifrega lying on the floor injured. 

NBC News 12 recently acquired a video that captured what happened. The video shows Scottodifrega leaving the kitchen area to try to break up an argument. Seconds later, a woman is shoved in the face. 

Scottodifrega said everything seemed to be happening fast, but time slowed down when he heard something slide across the floor.

“I happened to look down and it was a handgun sliding across the floor,” he told NBC News 12. “At that point, everybody was scurrying to get the gun.”

Someone in the crowd apparently took the gun out the restaurant, and Scottodifrega said he thought that would be the end of the altercation. However, the same male who was caught on video shoving the woman earlier came back into the restaurant. He walked up behind Scottodifrega and punched him in the head, then stomped his head into the ground several times.

“You hit me in the face, I go down and it’s done,” Scottodifrega said, according to NBC News 12. “But I mean, you continued.”

Scottodifrega blacked out for a while, but one moment is seared into his memory.

“After I fell, it was foggy and I just remembered seeing the anger in his face while I was on the floor,” the restaurateur recalled. “When I was looking at him, I was just wondering in my head, ‘Why is this guy so angry at me?’”

Winston-Salem police said the suspect turned himself in 11 days later and charges have been filed against 23-year-old Brandon Sessoms of Winston-Salem. Sessoms was given a $10,000 bond and immediately bonded out, according to police.

Scottodifrega said the attack was such that he was “very close” to pulling his own gun. 

“Yes, my life was in danger, but at the same time, it’s a 23-year-old,” he told NBC News 12. “I’m glad I didn’t draw. If I get hurt, I’m okay with that, but I just don’t want anyone else involved in the thing.”

Sessoms declined to speak with reporters without first consulting his lawyer. He is due back in court May 23.

“I have to, every day, wake up and not know if it’s going to be a good day or bad day, as far as my mental state goes,” Scottodifrega said, according to NBC News 12. “Sometimes I remember. Sometimes I don’t.”