A 33-year-old Dallas man is recovering after he said a stranger slashed his throat during a daytime encounter in South Dallas. Police say the suspect remains unknown.
Dallas police said they received a call just after 3:30 p.m. Monday, February 9, according to WFAA. In a statement, police said: “The preliminary investigation determined a man was cut by an unknown suspect.”
Joseph Womack described the attack in interviews with FOX 4 and WFAA.
Womack said the incident began when a man he did not know approached him and asked for a cigarette.
“When he grabbed my shoulder, he pulled out a knife – a good 6 inches long and 2 inches wide,” Womack said.
“He grabs my shoulder, spins me around with the knife in his hand, and just shoves it into my throat,” he said in a separate interview.
Womack said the encounter happened in a parking lot on South Cesar Chavez Boulevard. He said he then stumbled to a Shamrock gas station on Corinth Street.
“Within minutes of my throat being cut, I had a puddle bigger round than my body underneath my feet,” he said.
“And my skin was just hanging,” he added.
Womack was transported to a hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and received a blood transfusion. He said he now has about a dozen stitches and must wear a surgical drain while the wound heals.
Police have not announced an arrest and have not released a description of the suspect.
Womack was homeless at the time of the attack and had been living on the streets while occasionally staying in shelters. He had been receiving assistance from Our Calling Ministries.
“I think there’s this idea that people don’t want to get off the streets and that’s not true,” said Maria Mills with Our Calling Ministries.
“Our goal is to get people off the streets. We were just days away from him being placed before this incident happened,” she said.
Womack said he believes the suspect could hurt someone else.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “He made it very clear that, unless he’s stopped, he’s not going to change his ways.”
When asked what justice would look like, Womack said he has already forgiven the attacker.
“Honestly, I went to church today, and I have forgiven the guy for what he did,” he said. “It’s just, I want to guarantee that he’s not able to do this to anyone else.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Dallas Police Department.
