JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man doused a Golden Corral worker with flammable liquid and lit her on fire early Wednesday evening at the restaurant on the city's Westside, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
Officers were called about 5 p.m. to the Golden Corral restaurant on Memorial Park Road, just off Normandy Boulevard.
The woman, in her mid-50s, was airlifted to the UF Health Shands Hospital Burn Unit in Gainesville.
JSO Sgt. Jay Farhat said the man, Darryl Tyrone Whipple, 58, was an acquaintance of the woman, stayed at the scene and was easily taken in custody.
He is being charged with attempted murder, battery, and criminal mischief or interruption of a business according to the Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said they're still trying to figure out why the man attacked the woman. They will also review surveillance video of the attack.
"Watching it on video is pretty graphic. It was worse than what we were expecting. Like I said, God, in part due to the video, that's why we're charging him," Farhat said.
A spokesperson for the Golden Corral franchise released the following statement Wednesday night:
"An employee at our Memorial Park road location in Jacksonville, Florida was tragically attacked today by an individual known to the employee and not affiliated with our company. We are cooperating fully with the authorities regarding their investigation into this matter. Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee and her family at this time."
The restaurant was packed when the attack happened, and many people ran off. Police said they need to interview witnesses, so anyone who was there at the time is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500.