A San Francisco bartender is recovering from life-threatening injuries after being attacked by a stranger with a box cutter in the bathroom of a Divisadero Street bar. The unprovoked assault has shocked the city's service industry community and raised concerns about safety in late-night establishments.
Taylor "TJ" Vindigni had just finished his bartending shift at The Snug on Fillmore Street and was having a drink with a friend at nearby The Fishbowl Bar & Grill when the attack occurred around 1:30 AM on Tuesday, June 24. According to the SF Standard, Vindigni was washing his hands in the restroom when a man approached him, said "Why are you such a fucking problem?" and immediately slashed his throat from ear to ear with a box cutter before stabbing him multiple times in the chest.
Vindigni had never seen his attacker before. Witnesses reported that the suspect had been sitting at the opposite end of the bar, staring at Vindigni before following him to the bathroom.
Good Samaritan Provides Critical Aid
Tim Plump was outside The Fishbowl when he heard the commotion and rushed to the bathroom, where he found Vindigni "gushing blood from the neck." Plump told the SF Standard that Vindigni said "Help" in what sounded "a lot more like fear" than pain.
Plump immediately called 911, then guided Vindigni against a wall and applied pressure to the neck wound while keeping him conscious until paramedics arrived. "I was really trying to have him speak to me the whole time," Plump said. "Every time he'd slow down speaking, I'd just kind of talk to him and shake him a little bit and just do my best to keep him awake."
Suspect Also Works in Service Industry
Police arrested Patrick Hamer, 43, two days later on Valencia Street near Clooney's Pub, where he had been employed as a bartender. According to SFist, Hamer faces charges including attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.
After the attack, Hamer fled the scene with the box cutter but left behind a pair of brass knuckles. Bar patrons attempted to chase him, but he still had the knife when he escaped. A representative for Clooney's confirmed that Hamer is no longer employed there.
Part of Concerning Pattern
This incident joins a troubling series of throat-slashing attacks in San Francisco over recent months. In March, authorities charged a man with murder for allegedly severing a victim's throat twice in a SoMa hotel room. Last November, a woman's throat was slashed in an unprovoked attack on a BART train approaching the 24th Street-Mission stop.
These violent incidents contrast sharply with broader crime trends in the city. SFPD data shows violent crimes are down 20% this year compared to the same period last year, dropping from 2,322 incidents to 1,872 as of June 22. The city's 2024 crime rate reached a 23-year low, with just 35 homicides—the fewest since 1961.
Community Mobilizes Support
The attack has prompted an outpouring of support from San Francisco's service industry community. Vindigni's colleagues at The Snug launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $20,000 to cover medical expenses and lost wages during his recovery. The bar has also created a special cocktail called "The Big G" with proceeds benefiting Vindigni.
Bar manager Maxwell Salvati described Vindigni as "a truly joyful presence behind the bar and in our community," adding that the fundraising effort offers "another way for those near and far to support this incredible human."
Vindigni spent most of last week sedated in the intensive care unit at San Francisco General Hospital, unable to eat, swallow, or walk. Medical records reviewed by the SF Standard show severe injuries including a jagged wound extending from ear to ear across his neck and a second slash across his left chest.
The Establishments
The attack occurred at The Fishbowl Bar & Grill, located at 1854 Divisadero Street. The neighborhood establishment describes itself as the "Classiest Dive on the West Coast" and serves Mexican-inspired bar food while remaining open until 2 AM most nights.
Vindigni works at The Snug, an upscale cocktail bar at 2301 Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights. According to the bar's website, the British pub-style establishment has become "recognized as one of the best cocktail bars in San Francisco and a neighborhood gem within Pacific Heights."
Legal Proceedings
Hamer remains in San Francisco County Jail, where he was booked shortly before 9 PM on Thursday. The charges he faces carry severe potential penalties—attempted murder in California can result in life imprisonment, while aggravated mayhem, defined as permanently disabling or disfiguring someone, carries similar potential sentences.
Representatives from the public defender's office declined to comment on whether they would represent Hamer. The district attorney's office confirmed the case remains under review, with formal charges still pending as of Monday morning.
Hamer's father, Mike Hamer, expressed shock at the allegations. "It appears that somebody was badly hurt, and that horrifies us, if Pat had any role in it," he told the SF Standard.
Broader Implications
The random nature of the attack has left law enforcement and the community searching for explanations. The fact that both the victim and alleged perpetrator work in the service industry—an environment requiring interaction with intoxicated patrons and high-stress situations—adds another layer of concern.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of late-night workers and raises questions about safety protocols in bars and restaurants. While overall crime statistics show improvement, random acts of extreme violence continue to occur, creating anxiety among workers in the hospitality industry.
As Vindigni continues his recovery and the legal process moves forward, this attack serves as a stark reminder of how quickly an ordinary night can turn violent. The response from the service industry community demonstrates the solidarity that exists among workers, but it also underscores the ongoing challenges they face in maintaining safe working environments.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities working to understand what may have motivated such a brutal and seemingly unprovoked attack between strangers in one of the city's neighborhood bars.
