California McDonald’s Incident: Employee Suffers Severe Burns

An employee at a McDonald’s in California suffered severe burns after a colleague allegedly poured hot oil on him. Jacob Smith, aged 20, is receiving treatment in the hospital following the incident on May 30 at a Yuba City McDonald’s.

Smith’s mother, Amber, explained to KCRA, an NBC affiliate in Sacramento, that her son was about to leave work when the attack occurred. “He was preparing to count the money in the office when he noticed something in his peripheral vision. As he turned, the oil was thrown on him,” she reported.

Yuba City police have identified the suspect as Jalani Bluett, 23. Bluett reportedly fled the scene but was apprehended by Sutter County deputies on May 31 after being reported missing.

Jacob Smith is currently recovering at the UC Davis ICU burn unit after reportedly being struck with hot liquid by a coworker.

According to online court records, Bluett faces charges of felony battery with serious bodily injury, felony mayhem, and felony assault with a deadly weapon. He has pleaded not guilty. The reasons behind the attack remain unclear, and Bluett’s public defender has not responded to requests for comment.

John Cook, who owns and operates the Yuba City McDonald’s, confirmed that Bluett is no longer employed there. In an emailed statement, Cook expressed, “The serious incident that took place at our restaurant is deeply concerning, and our focus is on supporting Jacob as he recovers. The safety and well-being of our employees, guests, and community remain our top priority.”

Amber Smith described her son’s injuries to KCRA, noting that he has burns on one side of his face, running down his neck, right arm, and across his back. She mentioned that Jacob is experiencing severe pain and doctors are working to reduce the burn sizes to minimize the need for skin grafting.