Jacob Smith, a 20-year-old shift manager at a Northern California McDonald’s, was preparing to end his shift on Saturday, June 6, when a co-worker allegedly threw hot oil over him, leaving him with second-degree burns across 22% of his body. The attack happened at a branch in Yuba City, and the suspect, Jalani Bluett, 23, fled before police arrived, prompting the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office to issue an “at risk missing person” appeal, stating Bluett was “considered at risk due to a diagnosis and vulnerabilities.”
Bluett was found and arrested shortly after midnight local time, and at his arraignment on June 6, he was “held to answer on assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, serious felony assault resulting in great bodily injury,” according to Yuba City Police Lt. Michael Bullard. He is being held in Sutter County with no bail. Police have not given a motive for the attack, and Smith told his mother he has no idea what led to it.
“Jacob Smith, 20, suffered second-degree burns over 22% of his body after a co-worker allegedly threw hot oil on him.”
Smith sustained burns to the side of his face, neck, right arm and back. His mother, Amber Smith, told KCRA that her son was in the office counting money when “out of the corner of his eye something, and he just turned, and the oil was just thrown on him.” She described his pain as “so excruciating that they can’t give him a level of pain medicine outside of the ICU.” Smith is now at UC Davis Medical Center receiving specialised treatment.
Writing in a GoFundMe page, Jacob Smith said: “As much as I want to be angry, or want to hate people and be scared of people, it’s just so hard to be when I have so many people showing their love for me. I’m not sad, and I’m not angry, and the pain doesn’t cause me grief because I know it’s necessary to heal. I’m so thankful for everybody.” He is scheduled for skin graft surgery later this week. The fundraiser has raised nearly $40,000 to support his recovery. McDonald’s has been approached for comment.