Police Report Workers Stabbed on Job in Separate Incidents

Safety at Work

New York City, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Police in New York City said two people punched and slashed a Brooklyn worker earlier this week, one of several unhinged attacks on employees just doing their jobs around the country.

Police said two shoppers entered a Brooklyn Five Below on Fifth Avenue near 53rd Street around 4 p.m. on May 4. When an employee said he needed to search their bags, two shoppers flew into a rage. One of the shoppers punched the worker, while the other stabbed him, slashing him multiple times all over his body, police said. The worker suffered serious injuries because of the attack, officials said.

The employee was taken by EMS to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn where he was listed as stable shortly after the attack.

Police said both attackers fled the scene on foot. Authorities described them as a man with a medium complexion in a black jacket, gray sweater, gray sweatpants and black sneakers. The other was described as a man with a light complexion in a black sweater, black pants, a blue mask and gray sneakers.

In Washington, D.C., a bouncer at Wunder Garden was stabbed by a patron when he turned the patron away after last call.

Officials said the bouncer at the popular DC beer garden was fatally stabbed May 3 after an interaction with a would-be customer. Security video showed Cadoza Simms, 50, trying to get into the bar after last call. Bouncer Marvin Urquhart refused to let Simms in because of the late hour.

Video shows the two arguing and Simms pushing Urquhart with his left hand and then stabbing him several times with a switchblade. Urquhart then pinned Simms to the ground while witnesses called 911.

Around 12:45 a.m., video showed Urquhart stand up and back away unsteadily.

“He retrieved a shoe that had come off during the altercation, put it on, and appeared to begin recording the defendant, who remained on the ground,” according to police.

A few minutes later, Urquhart went inside the club and took a seat at the bar. After looking at his phone, he made a FaceTime call. Witnesses told police Urquhart didn’t know he’d been stabbed. Soon after, he began to lose consciousness and ultimately collapsed sideways onto the floor.

He was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died of his injuries, police said.

Witnesses told police Simms had tried unsuccessfully to get into the club after last call a few weeks before. The bar has temporarily closed in light of Urquhart’s death. Wunder Garden said in a social media post that he was a "beloved member of our team," and thanked the community for their understanding and support.

In Mobile, Ala., an employee was assaulted at the city’s Continuous Learning Center.

Police said the victim was working at the Center when he was hit by a student. Police later determined that the student had physically assaulted the employee during an altercation. The student, Frederick Tate, 19, of Eight Mile, was arrested and charged with assault. He was taken to jail where he was held on a $7,500 bond.

On May 3, a McDonald’s employee was stabbed by an angry customer in New York over a refund.

Police said the violence erupted Sunday, just after 1 p.m., when an irate customer started an altercation with the employee. When he was denied a refund, the incident escalated. Police said the customer came after the employee and knifed him in the torso.

The victim, a 36-year-old man, was taken to Saint Barnabus hospital, where he was expected to recover.

Police said the suspect fled the scene after the attack, presumably still without his refund. He was described as a male with a dark complexion, last seen wearing a gray sweater and blue jeans. No arrests had been made as of May 5.

And in Eugene, Ore., a 47-year-old man was arrested in late April after a Safeway employee was stabbed inside the store. Eugene Police Department officers said the victim, a male employee in his 40s, told officers he didn’t know the man, and that he’d fled after stabbing him.

After a brief investigation, officers were able to locate the suspect, Jason Troy Griner, and charge him with first degree assault charges. The victim was taken to an area hospital and treated for on-life threatening injuries.

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