A shocking and graphic video has just surfaced online which shows the moment when a homeless serial shoplifter set a store clerk on fire after he attempted to stop him from stealing. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 22 in El Sobrante, California.
Surveillance footage of the attack shows that it was premeditated and vicious. The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Kendall Burton who is facing serious charges including assault with a deadly weapon, battery, arson and robbery.
Last Friday a homeless black man set a Bay Area mini mart worker on fire after being confronted about shoplifting for the third time that day pic.twitter.com/ypsHza7FKg
— The 13/51+ Project (@the1351project) October 1, 2023
The victim of this heinous crime has been identified as Suraj who was rushed to San Francisco’s Saint Francis Memorial Hospital following the attack and has remained there since. He suffered severe second and third degree burns across his face, neck, shoulders and chest which he described as an immense pain at “seven or eight out of ten” on the pain scale.
Suraj, the clerk who was attacked by Burton, had worked at this store for five years and revealed that often times they would deal with shoplifters however, this instance was far worse than anything they had ever encountered before.
He recalled trying to cover Burton’s hand but not remembering what happened after that because he lit his face on fire instead.
His wife Sabeena Parajuli has started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help offset the medical bills she and her husband are facing which has already raised $23,326 thus far.
Kendall Burton, a homeless man with — you guessed it — a violent record, set a store clerk on fire after the clerk tried to stop him from shoplifting for the third time in one day. https://t.co/nERZhuzKOH pic.twitter.com/cWZgdO0Kai
— The Marina Times ⛵️????️ (@TheMarinaTimes) October 2, 2023
Kendall Burton is homeless person in El Sobrante with three felonies on his record including carrying a concealed dirk or dagger according to Marina Times report. This indicates that this attack was premeditated and goes against any argument for self-defense.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested Burton without bail due to his violent past record making sure justice will be served for Suraj who was involved in this incident.
