Overview
- The attack occurred on May 30 when police say a coworker threw hot cooking oil on 20-year-old Jacob Smith at a Yuba City McDonald’s, leaving burns to his face, neck, arm and back.
- Authorities arrested 23-year-old Jalani Bluett after he was briefly listed as a missing person and book him on felony counts that include battery causing serious bodily injury, mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon.
- Smith remains in the UC Davis burn unit in intensive care and is scheduled for additional surgeries, including skin grafting, as doctors work to limit the area needing grafts.
- The family launched a GoFundMe to cover medical and living costs and has raised just over $100,000 toward a stated goal to help with his recovery.
- McDonald’s said the accused is no longer employed at the location and is cooperating with investigators, who say the motive is still under review and that Bluett was considered at risk due to an unspecified diagnosis or vulnerabilities.