Homeless Shoplifter Sets Store Clerk On Fire Who Confronted Him In California

EL SOBRANTE — A store clerk who tried to stop a man from stealing a third time in one day was set on fire during the confrontation.

Surveillance video captured the moment a man poured lighter fluid on the worker and set him on fire.

The attack left Suraj, who declined to share his last name for safety reasons, with second and third-degree burns on his face, neck, chest and shoulder.

He has been hospitalized since Sept. 22.

"It's terrible. You know, I'm still in a trauma right now, me, my family," he said from his hospital bed.

"And when we clean the wound, it's like over 10," he said of the pain he's experiencing.

Suraj said he's worked as a clerk at Appian Food and Liquor in El Sobrante for about five years. He said workers deal with shoplifters often, but nothing like this has ever happened.

On this day, he said his coworker alerted him to the repeat shoplifter who stole lighter fluid each time. Suraj tried to stop him, while his co-worker grabbed a bat.

"He just splashed lighter fluid on my face, and I was so scared that moment," said Suraj. "I tried to cover his hand, but I don't know. I don't remember. He just lit the fire on me you know. I just rushed to the restroom, and I just splashed water on my face."

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrested the suspect, 38-year-old Kendall Burton, a homeless person in El Sobrante. He's facing charges including assault with a deadly weapon, battery, arson and robbery. He's being held without bail.