Police are searching for a man who allegedly stabbed a restaurant manager multiple times after being told to wear a mask inside a Jack in the Box restaurant in League City, Texas.
“It’s a very polarizing situation,” League City Police Chief Gary Ratliff said. “Where some people don’t think there should be masks and others do.”
According to police, 53-year-old James Schulz entered the restaurant Wednesday night without a mask. He was asked to wear one to be attended or to use the drive-thru.
The customer “belligerently refused,” Ratliff said, accusing the restaurant staff of not wanting to serve him because he was homeless.
Schulz then walked to the door, and when the manager turned his back on him, the customer reportedly ran after the manager, tackled him, and stabbed him multiple times in the arm and upper torso with what appeared to be a razor, according to Ratliff. .
Several co-workers ran to help the manager, and Schulz fled the restaurant by bike. The manager was taken to a local hospital with three stab wounds, was treated and released.
Police are still looking for Schulz and describe him as a passerby who lives in the area.
Ratliff said people should respect the mask policies of local businesses.
“Many of these people have had some events of this type, I do not know this manager, but others have had personal events with loved ones who died and passed away as a result of the covid, as well as some of our agents,” said Ratliff “All I would ask is that people respect the opinions and policies of these businesses.”
“People can refuse to do business in those places, they can choose whatever they want, but there is no reason to resort to aggressive behavior like this,” he added.