MORROW, Ga. -- Witnesses to a beating at a Morrow Cracker Barrel are talking to CBS Atlanta about what they call a “shocking hate crime.”

Ginger Ellis loves her three grandchildren. She was especially taken by the 7-year-old girl in the tutu, skipping into the Cracker Barrel in Mororw with her mother last Wednesday.

“I smiled at her and said hey baby,” said Ellis.

But just seconds later Ellis watched as 7-year-old Shiyenn Hill’s mother Tawshawnea Hill was beaten by 6'2" 250 lb. Troy Dale West. Police said the beating happened right in front of Shiyenn.

Now the case could go under federal investigation as a hate crime because witnesses say West, who is white, hurled racial slurs at Hill, who is black, as he was attacking her.

Police say it all started when West, 47, almost hit Shiyenn with the door as he was walking out of the Cracker Barrel with his wife.

One Cracker Barrel employee, who asked not to be identified said when Hill politely told West to be careful, he went on a racial tirade.

The employee said Hill told West, “Please don’t do this, I’m in the military,” to which West responded “I don’t give a f***you black n***** b****and then started punching her." The employee said "I saw the foot motion of him kicking her. As he was punching her, he called her a black n***** b**** twice."

Ginger Ellis says she is convinced the attack was racially motivated “because he used the N word and the way he kept kicking her and he kept hitting her. You could see the evilness on his face.”

West has been charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct as well as a felony charge of cruelty to children. He remains free on a $5,000 bond and could face additional charges pending the outcome of the investigation.