Autistic Shop Worker Fired After He Was Attacked Three Times In Four Months By Thieves

A shop employee with autism was fired after being assaulted by thieves three times in four months outside his place of employment.

Austin Sherrell, a person with mild autism who lived in California and worked at Vons Grocery, is said to have been harassed, punched, and verbally abused by a bunch of robbers.

His employment was wrongfully terminated by the business, and Vons cited a "pending investigation" as the cause for terminating his contract.

Credit: KGET/YouTube

Despite his father's plea for workers' compensation following the terrible tragedy, this is the case.

Overall, Sherrell came under attack three times before he finally learned how to protect himself.

When the 23-year-old was first attacked, two burglars suddenly appeared, beat him in the face, and pepper sprayed him while he was carrying out the trash.

Two months after the initial incident, which happened on January 19, he was attacked there once more.

Sherrell provided the following account of the initial event to KGET News via The Mirror:

"I'm bleeding and I get away and I run back inside, My biggest problem, what I have is that I'm mildly autistic, I have a hard time processing things."

Fortunately, he had a roll of garbage bags in his apron pocket this time, so he was able to defend himself when the assailant inserted a knife into the roll before him.

He stated of the second one, which "shook" him to his core:

"Unbelievable. The first incident didn't shake up too much, but the second incident, when you're close to death, I'm the most shook I've ever been in my entire life, the most scared in my entire life."

Credit: KGET/YouTube

On April 1, Sherrell was involved in another confrontation after two customers complained to him that a person who appeared to be under the influence of drugs was harassing them.

He took action right away and swiftly called security for help to make sure the affected clients were secure and okay.

Sherrell's father, Adam, told the business that the individual who attacked him three times and got in his face also bumped his chest.

He said that the guards overheard him remark, "He's cussing me out, he's threatening my life," but that the security did nothing to defend him even after he alerted them.

"I back away, he comes back in my face. I back away again." Sherrell stated, after pushing the man away a third time, to security.

Later, after his son was nearly stabbed, his father asked the firm for worker's compensation because his son was having "nightmares and panic attacks."

Credit: KGET/YouTube

Employees who suffer work-related injuries have a vital support system in the form of worker's compensation, which enables them to take the time off they require and receives  payment for their medical expenses.

Additionally, it acts as a safeguard, protecting workers from any negative outcomes like firing owing to their justifiable need for a leave of absence.

Upon his return to work, Sherrell experienced unexpected challenges, however, as his hours were cut and he was placed on administrative leave on April 10 due to a "pending investigation." 

As a result, on April 19, he was fired.

Sherrell has reportedly been unable to find work since being abruptly fired, according to Adam.

However, The United Food and Commercial Workers 8-Golden State Union has appealed the dismissal.

Jacques Loveall, the president, said: "Our initial findings are that Mr. Sherrell's termination was unwarranted."

Sherrell said he loved the customers and will miss their presence even though he had decided not to go back to Vons.

He modestly noted that he regularly heard praise for his service and humbly acknowledged the comments he frequently received from them.

His father started a GoFundMe account to support Sherrell with the goal of reaching $5,000; as of Friday morning (12 May), it has received close to $3,000 in donations.