A 20-year-old McDonald's manager in California is fighting through severe burns after a coworker allegedly threw hot oil on him during a shift, leaving him hospitalized in an intensive care burn unit.
According to ABC 7 News, Jacob Smith was working at a McDonald's in Yuba City on May 30 when the attack allegedly happened. Police told the outlet that Smith was preparing to end his shift and count the restaurant's money when a fellow employee, identified as 23-year-old Jalani Bluett, allegedly hurled the hot liquid at him, which was believed to be oil, before leaving the restaurant.
The injuries were immediate and severe.
"The whole side of his face, down his neck, all the way down his right arm and across his back," Smith's mother, Amber Smith, said.
She said her son barely had time to react.
"He was in the office getting ready to count the money when he saw out of the corner of his eye something, and he just turned, and the oil was just thrown on him."
Smith suffered burns to roughly 22 percent of his body, according to his family. He remains in the UC Davis ICU burn unit, where doctors are working to limit the damage and reduce the need for extensive skin grafts.
"The pain he's experiencing is so excruciating that they can't give him a level of pain medicine outside of the ICU," Amber Smith said.
Police said responding officers found Smith conscious and able to speak despite the severity of his injuries.
"The victim was up walking around ambulatory and able to communicate with them, but had obvious burn marks on his upper torso and his face area," Yuba City Police Lt. Michael Bullard said.
Authorities have not released a motive for the alleged attack.
Bluett was arrested and is being held in Sutter County Jail. According to Bullard, prosecutors have moved forward with multiple felony charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, and battery causing great bodily injury. He is currently being held without bail.
For Smith's family, the focus remains on recovery. In a GoFundMe post, Amber Smith described her son as a hardworking young man who was planning his future and preparing for marriage before the attack.
"He is engaged to be married and has always been responsible, hardworking, and committed to those he loves," she wrote.
Smith also shared a brief update of his own from the hospital.
"Thank you to God for saving my eye and giving me awesome family and friends."
As doctors prepare him for additional surgery, his mother says there is only one thing she wants from the criminal case.
"I want justice to be served. I want him to serve the time he needs to serve for what he's done to my son."
