A 17-year-old laundromat worker in Pomona faced a terrifying attack when a man armed with a machete targeted him over his red San Francisco 49ers jersey.
At a Glance
- A man entered a Pomona laundromat with a machete after demanding a teen remove his red 49ers jersey
- The attacker struck the countertop with the weapon before smashing the glass door and fleeing
- The incident occurred Saturday morning on Holt Avenue near Fairplex Drive
- No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made as of Monday
- Why it matters: The teen was working alone at his father’s business when the unprovoked attack occurred
The incident happened Saturday morning at the laundromat on Holt Avenue near Fairplex Drive. Jacob Hernandez, 17, was working at his father’s business when the confrontation began.
According to Jacob, the man approached him in the parking lot and began verbally assaulting him over his football jersey. The teen had worn a red shirt to support the 49ers, who were playing that day.
The man allegedly told Jacob: “Get that red off.”
Security video captured the suspect walking into the business carrying a machete while several customers were inside. At one point during the incident, the man struck a countertop with his weapon.
Phil Hernandez, Jacob’s father, described the frightening sequence of events. He was working on a machine when he heard screams and quickly closed the door while the man stepped outside momentarily.
The attacker then smashed the glass door with the machete before walking away.
Phil expressed deep concern about his son’s safety, noting he wasn’t supposed to be at work that day. Jacob typically works at the laundromat alone.
“What bothered me the most was that he went after my son,” Phil said. “I wasn’t supposed to be here that day, and my son works here alone. I’m not sure how my son or anyone would have handled that.”
The Pomona Police Department confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident.
Authorities stated that no one was arrested as of Monday. The investigation remains ongoing.
Police have not released a description of the suspect or any potential motives beyond the apparent objection to the red jersey.
The laundromat’s security footage is expected to play a crucial role in the investigation as detectives work to identify the machete-wielding assailant.
This incident highlights the unexpected dangers faced by teenage workers in family-owned businesses, particularly when working alone during early morning hours.
