The Harlem McDonald’s worker brutally stabbed by a knife-wielding customer has been hailed as a hero after he tried to ward off his attacker with nothing but a plastic cleaning pole, his boss told The Post on Friday.
A severely injured Angel Miguel Salazar, 23, is recovering in the hospital after being stabbed in the face, back and arm during the frenzied attack at the fast-food joint.
The Bronx resident, who had to be placed in a medically induced coma after the bloody attack, was ambushed by the irate customer while trying to shield his two female co-workers, store manager Jennifer Bisla Rodriguez said.
“He is a hero because not everybody would do that. Not everybody would see their fellow co-workers in danger and step up,” Rodriguez told The Post.
Salazar’s older sister, Miguelina Salazar, said her traumatized brother didn’t want to speak to a reporter about the attack because he believed he did what any man would.
Angel Miguel Salazar is recovering in the hospital. Handout
The bloody aftermath of Wednesday’s frenzied attack. Seth Gottfried
Police outside the location after the attack. Seth Gottfried“He told me, ‘No, no, I am not a hero. I did what I had to do. I defended my co-workers. Any man, in that situation, a real man, would do that.’ He is very friendly and humble,” Miguelina told The Post.
Salazar was back in the kitchen preparing food when the bearded suspect walked into the restaurant at about 12:40 a.m. and immediately went berserk after being told to order at a kiosk instead of the counter, his boss said.
He ran out front after hearing the suspect tell the female shift manager and another employee that he was armed with a knife, Rodriguez said.
“Not everybody would see their fellow co-workers in danger and step up,” the store manager said. Seth Gottfried
A bearded suspect walked into the restaurant at about 12:40 a.m. Seth Gottfried
The fight broke out after the suspect was told to order at a kiosk instead of the counter. Seth Gottfried“He heard and ran to the sink area and got a plastic pole used to clean the grills. He ran to the front where the angry customer was,” Rodriguez said.
“That’s where the fight started. [The suspect] pulled out his knife and started stabbing him multiple times.”
She added, “It was a terrible attack. It was a bloody attack. Everybody was afraid. They were crying … They were traumatized.”
Blood at the crime scene. Seth Gottfried
“It was a terrible attack. It was a bloody attack,” the store manager said. Seth GottfriedSalazar lost consciousness at the scene before being rushed to a Harlem hospital, where he underwent hours-long surgery.
He was brought out of his induced coma later Wednesday but still doesn’t have full use of his left hand, his boss said.
“I’m surprised he put his life in danger, knowing that the guy had a knife. I would have thought twice. But I am not surprised because he cares about the people around him,” Rodriguez said.
Salazar being removed from the scene via a stretcher. Ken Lopez / FreedomNewsTVSalazar’s attacker — who cops said was between 5 feet 11 and 6 feet tall and was last seen wearing a dark green jacket and ski mask — took off immediately after the attack.
As of Friday morning, no arrests have been made.
The Mickey D’s stabbing happened about a block away from the Burger King where 19-year-old worker Krystal Bayron-Nieves was shot and killed by an alleged robber in January.
