There was no fight. No history.
No words were spoken before a part-time line cook started stabbing a dishwasher at a popular corndog restaurant in Avondale Estates, Pallokaville Fine Foods owner Jason Hylton told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday.
But James Thomas, a dishwasher at Pallookaville who was stabbed 11 times on March 14, told Hylton he forgives his attacker.
“The attack was one-sided and completely out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard, including James,” Hylton said.
Thomas remained in the hospital Sunday under pain management, Hylton said. He has had two surgeries to repair a ruptured lung, Hylton said.
Thomas and the five staff members who were in the restaurant at the time of the stabbing all agree that Ian Clayton, the 27-year-old accused of attacking Thomas with a butcher knife, did so without provocation.
“Another cook was coming in the back door and watched Ian do it,” Hylton said. “He jumped on him and got knife out of his hand.”
Clayton stayed in the area until police arrived. He didn’t try to run away, Hylton said.
Thomas has been employed at Pallookaville since last October and always shows up on time and smiling, Hylton said.
“He’s hungry to work and is never upset or has issues at work that I’ve ever seen,” Hylton said.
A GoFundme campaign was set up to help Thomas with expenses related to the attack and Giving Kitchen agreed to match funds up to $2,500.
A local therapist stopped by the restaurant and offered counseling sessions to anyone who was working at the time of the attack, Hylton said.
He and his staff are pitching in to get the dishes washed and keep service as back to normal as possible.
They hope Thomas will be released from the hospital this week, he said.
In other news:
