Employee of a homeless center in Georgia attacked by man with machete

A man is incarcerated in the Athens-Clarke County Jail on suspicion of attacking a person with a machete at a homeless shelter in Athens.

Arrest records show that 33-year-old Cedric Smith is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.

Officials said the attack occurred around 4 p.m. Thursday outside the Advantage Homeless Day Service Center on North Avenue.

The facility was closed on Friday, but the staff who showed up spoke exclusively with Courtney Francisco from Channel 2.

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John Burch said Smith was in the parking lot when he began hitting an employee on the head with the machete.

“It’s traumatic,” John Burch said. “Four or five different people called 911 to get him here. We had people putting pressure on him to make sure we could stop the bleeding.”

Athens Police Lt. Jody Thompson said officers arrested Smith in less than 15 minutes.

“Upon arrival, our officers received an outpouring of support from witnesses and visitors to the Homeless Day Center,” Thompson said. “Their assistance was critical in apprehending this violent suspect and providing immediate medical attention to the victim.”

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Staff at the facility said their colleague’s family was at his side in the hospital. They did not open the day center on Friday and expect it to remain closed until Tuesday.

The employee was later identified as Chris Sullen and remains at Grady Memorial Hospital.

“We’re just trying to get through it as best we can,” Burch said.

Smith’s criminal record shows that he served more than four years in state prison for aggravated assault in 2017. He was out on parole when the machete attack occurred.

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