Stabbing Survivor Relives Nightmare: Attacker Charged in Walmart Killing

Arturo Juarez is reliving his worst nightmare.

Almost four years ago, the former restaurant worker from Perris, California survived a brutal stabbing by 29-year-old Lonnie Hinton – the same suspect now charged in the recent killing of 65-year-old Jessica Morales inside a Walmart superstore.

Hinton attacked Juarez, who was cooking at Gus Jr.’s restaurant on Nov. 8, 2020, after returning armed with a knife following an altercation with another employee over a tip jar theft.

Hinton stabbed Juarez four times — three jabs in the back and once in the left arm —before fleeing. Emergency responders rushed Juarez to Riverside University Heath System (RUHS) in Moreno Valley, where he survived but faced a grueling recovery.

“I didn’t see anything; I didn’t know anything,” Juarez told Newsweek. “I was standing in front of the grill cooking when he attacked me and almost killed me.”

Surviving the attack was just the start of Juarez’s struggle. The physical and emotional scars have kept him from returning to work, not only at Gus Jr.’s, where he was employed briefly, but also at his second job at Bombshelter Restaurant and Bar.

Gus Jr.’s, where the attack occurred, is a chain of fast-food restaurants primarily located in Southern California offering a mix of American and Mexican cuisine.

“I tried to work two years ago because I was hungry and have a daughter to support, but I couldn’t do it. I only worked two days. I couldn’t handle it physically or mentally,” he said.

His ongoing battle with severe stress, anxiety and depression has been compounded by the inadequate workers’ compensation system. After nearly four years, he finally secured an appointment with a psychiatrist.

“I have to take medication every day. Now my blood is sick, my heart is sick, my mind is sick, my body is sick. My life used to revolve around my daughter, work, and exercise. Now everything has changed for the worse,” Juarez said.

‘He Did The Same Thing’

Police arrested Hinton that same day he attacked Juarez and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon, petty theft and robbery. However, prosecutors dropped the assault charge in a plea deal. Hinton served a five-year prison sentence and was released on parole earlier this year.

The recent news that Hinton was arrested for Morales’ murder, involving a similar attack, has distressed Juarez.

“He did the same thing, the same situation, with a knife to another innocent employee who just went to work like I did,” Juarez said. “She didn’t know it would be the last day of her life, just like I didn’t know if it would be the last day of mine. Thanks to God, I survived, though I’m in very bad shape.”

Juarez felt frustration when he learned about Hinton’s reoffending.

“I told them that if they released him, he would do the same thing or something even worse, and now look—he killed another innocent person,” he said.

Months after being paroled, Hinton struck again stabbing another employee at a Walmart about 20 minutes from the restaurant where Juarez was stabbed.

Deputies discovered Morales with multiple stab wounds on Aug. 5 inside a Walmart superstore in Lake Elsinore after Hinton randomly attacked her. Medical personnel tried to save her, but they pronounced her dead at the scene.

“This appears to be a random event, and there was no connection between the suspect and the victim prior to the assault,” stated the Sheriff’s Department in a release.

He turned himself in at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s station and the police arrested and charged him with one count of murder as well as lying in wait.

The Riverside District Attorney’s Office told Newsweek Hinton’s next court date is scheduled for October 10, where he’ll attend a felony settlement conference. He remains in the custody of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Juarez’s battle for justice extends beyond his own suffering. He is now advocating for both himself and Morales, seeking accountability for Hinton’s actions and the failure of the justice system.

“I spoke with the sheriff, I told them I want to go to court to talk about this,” Juarez said.

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