Jack in the Box employee arrested for stabbing delivery driver with a steak knife

SAN ANTONIO — On Thursday morning, San Antonio police arrested a 17-year-old Jack in the Box employee for allegedly stabbing a delivery driver with a steak knife.

Investigators said it happened around 5 a.m. at the fast-food chain off Culebra Road and Callaghan Road.

The victim was rushed to the hospital and is recovering. His wife spoke to KENS 5 and said the suspect mistook her husband for a thief.

Alexandra Artzt said she drove down from Dallas, where they are from, as soon as she got the call that her husband had been stabbed.

“The employee thought he was trying to rob him,” Artzt said.

She said her husband has been a delivery driver for 7 years and has never been face to face with violence. She said as he was trying to stop off a delivery at the Jack in the Box, the employee jumped him and stabbed him once in the stomach.

“When he was attacking him, he was saying, I’m your driver, what are you doing?” She said.

She said his semi-truck was parked right outside and he had his uniform on. She said they are puzzled as to how he came across as a threat.

“That’s like not normal behavior, you know? To immediately just think, let’s grab a knife and stab someone,” Artzt said. “He was just there to do his job.”

Police arrested the Jack in the Box employee who is identified as 17-year-old, Joel Perez. He is now facing an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.

Artzt said she is grateful her husband and father of their three children is alive.

“I’m just trying to process everything and just be thankful that he’s still here,” Artzt said.

KENS 5 reached out to the Jack in the Box, the manager declined to comment. We reached out to the corporate office, but have not heard back.