A restaurant employee at a popular Santa Monica eatery was stabbed multiple times on Sunday, in what police believe to be an unprovoked attack. The incident occurred near the bustling Santa Monica Pier, a day before Labor Day, as beachgoers thronged the area. Santa Monica Police Department responded to the 1600 block of Ocean Front Walk around 5 p.m., discovering the wounded man outside Pier Pizza and Subs, where he works, according to a CBS News Los Angeles report.
The employee, on his lunch break, was stabbed from behind by an individual suspected of being homeless. After the attack, the assailant fled the scene and remains at large. Paramedics treated the victim on the spot before transporting him to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, SMDP reported.
Witnesses and bystanders expressed concern about the safety of the area, which has seen a rise in crime in recent times. One local, Jehrid Hale, echoed community worries, saying, "It's really terrible to hear, but it doesn't surprise me, unfortunately," in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles. Hale added, "I feel for my employees, I fear for my coworkers, I fear for my girlfriend, my partner, and just people that come here."
The Santa Monica police are actively investigating the stabbing and reviewing surveillance footage to identify the perpetrator. They urge anyone with information related to the incident to contact them at (310) 458-8491.
