Victim in East Harlem McDonald's stabbing speaks out after attacker arrested
EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- Police have arrested a suspect in the stabbing attack that left a McDonald's worker seriously hurt in Manhattan, and now the victim is speaking out about the ordeal.
Angel Miguel Salazar, 23, was released from the hospital Tuesday. He remains in tremendous pain, but his heart is full of gratefulness.
"I gotta be thankful and thank God I'm still alive," he said.
The young man of faith was working at McDonald's in East Harlem on March 9, when a customer started arguing with the staff.
Salazar was in the kitchen and says he rushed to the front when he heard the man threaten to kill his female colleague.
"That's when he grabbed a knife and he started stabbing me," Salazar said. "He's grabbing me and started doing crazy moves."
It is a miracle Salazer survived. He was rushed to Harlem Hospital after suffering a number of injuries including a punctured lung.
He was stabbed three times in the back and slashed twice in the head. His left arm was cut so deeply, he can't make a fist and will need another surgery. There's no guarantee he will regain full range.
The suspect, Ezekiel Dunn-Jennings, 28, is facing attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges after turning himself in Tuesday morning. The 28-year-old claims he was attacked first and didn't mean any harm.
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The incident all began when Dunn-Jennings allegedly began harassing and arguing with employees inside the restaurant at 3rd Avenue and East 117th Street around 12:30 a.m.
It is believed Dunn-Jennings had trouble ordering food from a kiosk and went to the counter to speak with a female manager when they started to argue.
Salazar says used to travel an hour each way to work. He says he was just trying to support his family, and when his colleague was in trouble, he did not hesitate to help.
"He was trying to hurt a female. My coworker. That's when I stepped in," Salazar said.
Despite his suffering Salazar insists he is not a hero, which underscores just how humble and courageous he really is.
The incident marked the second time this year that an overnight fast food worker was assaulted.
In January, Burger King employee Kristal Bayron-Nieves was shot and killed just around the corner.
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