SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A Mission Beach bartender was stabbed seven times Thursday afternoon, after a man slipped through an unlocked door of Moe’s restaurant.
Multiple witnesses jumped into help, potentially saving his life.
“He hasn't stabbed anybody, but he's, something's going to happen. So get out here quickly,” said Edwin Pauneto, owner of Knot Exactly Sport Fishing, who operates multiple Airbnbs nearby.
Those were the words Pauneto said to the police as he followed a man carrying a knife down the alleyway.
“So we're walking down the alley on Redondo, and he decided to open up the door of Moe’s on the side. He opened up his knife,” said Pauneto.
Police say the suspect went into the side door and confronted a bartender, Matt Harden, who was eating lunch.
The restaurant was closed at the time.
He then stabbed Harden seven times before Pauneto stepped in to help.
“I picked up a rock for self-defense, and I went in there. And when I went in there, I saw Matt, the bartender, on the floor. His arm was dangling,” said Pauneto. “The suspect looked at me, started walking towards me, and I just hit him over the head with a, with a rock. And then the other bartender behind me picked up a barstool, started hitting him from behind.”
Authorities arrived and arrested Hector Vasquez.
He was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
Harden was also taken to the hospital in critical condition, but looks to be recovering.
Pauneto says Matt is the real hero of this story.
“Matt took the initiative to protect everybody else with his life on the line, and Matt didn't know if he was gonna come out of it, if, if he was gonna die that at that at that, you know, at that time, but he, he took a big chance to protect everybody,” said Pauneto.
Hector Vasquez is set to appear in court on Monday.
If you would like to donate to a fundraiser for Matt’s medical expenses, click here for more information.
