An El Sobrante store clerk who tried to stop a man from stealing a third time in one day was set on fire during the confrontation.
EL SOBRANTE — A store clerk who tried to stop a man from stealing a third time in one day was set on fire during the confrontation. The attack left Suraj, who declined to share his last name for safety reasons, with second and third-degree burns on his face, neck, chest and shoulder. "It's terrible. You know, I'm still in a trauma right now, me, my family," he said from his hospital bed.
On this day, he said his coworker alerted him to the repeat shoplifter who stole lighter fluid each time. Suraj tried to stop him, while his co-worker grabbed a bat. "He just splashed lighter fluid on my face, and I was so scared that moment," said Suraj."I tried to cover his hand, but I don't know. I don't remember. He just lit the fire on me you know. I just rushed to the restroom, and I just splashed water on my face."
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrested the suspect, 38-year-old Kendall Burton, a homeless person in El Sobrante. He's facing charges including assault with a deadly weapon, battery, arson and robbery. He's being held without bail. "First of all, I would like to say nobody has to go through this kind of situation, and the small stores should have more security or something like that. The workplace should be safer," he said. His wife, Sabeena Parajuli, started an online fundraiser to help with medical bills.
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