Teenage restaurant worker fights off attacker with jiu-jitsu

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Police are actively searching for a suspect involved in a violent incident at a downtown restaurant, where a worker was bitten multiple times. The attack occurred outside the Lotus Restaurant, leaving the 19-year-old employee, Jezarious Sheldon, with injuries on his back and shoulders.

Sheldon, who considers the restaurant more like family than a workplace, was taking out the trash when the confrontation began. Surveillance footage from a nearby store captured the altercation. Sheldon recounted that the assailant made derogatory comments as he approached, calling him “suburb boy.”

Despite several onlookers, the situation escalated as the attacker continued to threaten Sheldon. A woman witnessing the event heard the assailant declare his intentions before he began shoving Sheldon against a window. In self-defense, Sheldon, who practices jiu-jitsu and has a wrestling background, fought back.

During the struggle, Sheldon managed to lift the attacker, who was significantly taller, but each time he did, the man retaliated by biting him. The confrontation only ended when bystanders intervened, pulling Sheldon away from the aggressor.

Lotus Restaurant co-owner, Yoom Nguyen, remarked on the incident, noting that the attacker underestimated Sheldon’s skills. Nguyen expressed concerns about neighborhood safety, observing a decline in diners due to safety fears since the restaurant’s opening in 1984.

Nguyen advocates for increased police presence, though he acknowledges the department’s staffing challenges. He hopes the community can contribute to the area’s safety through vigilance and solidarity.