A California man was arrested early Thursday morning on charges of attempted murder and committing a hate crime after an employee at a Denny’s Restaurant was stabbed in the neck and throat.
Police said the unnamed waiter was at work in the restaurant, which was closed, when Curtis Martin, 24, knocked on the closed Santa Maria restaurant window and asked to use the restroom.
He was let in and approached a table of employees and asked the victim if he was gay. [Santa Maria Times]
After the victim said he was gay, Martin began stabbing him. Martin fled the scene and ran to his vehicle; police located and apprehended him a short time later.
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“The injuries were not life-threatening and he’s expected to fully recover,” said Santa Maria police Lt. Dan Ast, noting that the knife did not pierce any vital body parts.
