Horrific surveillance footage has revealed the moment a Bay Area store worker was set on fire by a homeless serial shoplifter as he tried to stop him from stealing.
Suraj, who declined to give his last name for fear of being targeted again, is seen attempting to wrestle Kendall Burton, 38, before being doused with lighter fluid.
The footage, covered in the stolen flammable liquid, shows Suraj’s head being consumed by flames as another salesman runs to his rescue with a baseball bat.
The senseless crime occurred Sept. 22 at the Appian Food and Liquor in El Sobrante, north of Oakland, where Suraj has worked for five years, leaving him with second- and third-degree burns on his face, neck, chest and face Shoulder.
Horrifying surveillance footage has revealed the moment a heroic salesman was set on fire by a homeless thug as he tried to stop him stealing from his workplace
In a post to the Go Fund Me, Suraj’s wife described the “horrific workplace incident” that led to her husband Suraj being placed in the care of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office told CBS News that the 38-year-old faces charges including assault with a deadly weapon, battery, arson and robbery and is being held without bail.
The county’s district attorney is Diana Becton – a progressive whose 2022 campaign was funded by George Soros to the tune of $1 million. Crime has risen sharply in the county: burglaries rose by a third, car thefts rose by a fifth and rapes rose by 7.5 percent in the same year.
Neighboring Alameda County – which includes Oakland – saw a huge increase in crime. Attempts are currently underway to recall progressive DA Pamela Price.
It’s a similar story across the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, where ultra-progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin was driven from office last year by voters dissatisfied with his track record on fighting crime.
Meanwhile, Suraj’s wife Sabeena said her husband’s road to recovery is still long and is raising funds for his physical and mental care after the ordeal.
From his hospital bed, Suraj told the outlet the “trauma” he and his family are feeling from the callous incident is overwhelming
Sabeena started a fundraiser hoping to raise $100,000, but although hundreds were hoping to help, she is still far from that goal.
In a post to Go Fund Me, she described the “horrific workplace incident” that led to her husband Suraj being placed in the care of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco.
‘[Suraj] was attacked with kerosene fluid and his body set on fire by a shoplifter on September 22, 2023 while working at his store in El Sobrante, California,” she wrote.
“At the moment he is out of danger and is receiving treatment.” [at] Saint Francis (sic) Memorial Hospital, SF.
“Burn wounds take time to heal and recover, and we are overwhelmed by the psychological trauma and pressure of medical procedures.”
“We are reaching out to you to request your support or contributions to this fundraiser.” “Your support would be invaluable and greatly appreciated.”
The senseless crime occurred on September 22 at Appian Food and Liquor in El Sobrante, where Suraj has worked for five years. The kerosene used can be seen in the picture
Suraj explained that he needed multiple surgeries and that his family “cryed constantly” when they came to visit
Contra Costa prosecutor Diana Becton, whose campaign received money from billionaire liberal George Soros, has seen a 10 percent increase in crime in the city of Antioch
From his hospital bed, Suraj told the outlet the “trauma” he and his family are feeling from the callous incident is overwhelming.
He described the pain he feels as a “10” when his wounds are cleaned, adding that he was “so scared” at that moment.
“I tried to cover his hand, but I don’t know. I do not remember. He just lit the fire on me, you know? “I just rushed to the toilet and just splashed water on my face,” he said.
The burn victim said: “Nobody has to go through a situation like this” and called for “more security” in smaller stores to make the workplace safer.
Suraj explained that he needed multiple surgeries and that his family “cryed constantly” when they came to visit.
reached out to the family for comment but they did not immediately respond before publication.