A Texas fast-food restaurant manager was stabbed in a dispute over a mask policy, and League City officials issued an arrest warrant for a suspect.
The shift manager for Jack in the Box in the city of Houston was stabbed on Wednesday, treated at a hospital and released, police said.
James Schulz, 53, is being sought for a death warrant with a deadly weapon, League City Police Chief Gary Ratliff.
When Schultz entered the store at around 8 pm on Wednesday, he was told he needed to wear a mask to be serviced and then accused the team of not wanting to serve him because he was a homeless person, Ratliff said.
“The suspect walked towards the door as if to leave, the manager turned his back and the suspect ran after him, grabbed him and stabbed him several times,” said Ratliff.
Coworkers rushed to help and the suspect ran away, Ratliff said.
The weapon appeared to be a pocket knife, he said. The manager had three stab wounds.
Schulz is known in the area and rides a bicycle, and the police have never had a similar problem with him, Ratliff said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott this month revoked a statewide masking mandate that was in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but companies can still demand them.
Ratliff acknowledged that the issue of masks is polarizing, but asked everyone to respect the opinions and policies of the companies. If necessary, the police will make an arrest for trespassing if someone refuses to leave a business, he said.
“There is no reason to let that go,” he said. “You can refuse to do business in these places or in anything you choose to do, but there is no reason for aggressive behavior like this.”
League City is a city of about 103,000 people southeast of Houston, in the general metropolitan area.
