By Joe Johnson
An employee at an Athens homeless facility was reported to be hospitalized in critical condition following an attack by a client armed with a machete.
Christopher Sullens reportedly was leaving work Thursday afternoon when he was assaulted by 33-year-old Cedric Courtes Smith.
According to his sister, Teresa Sullens, Christopher was life-flighted from a local hospital to Grady Memorial in Atlanta, where he was in critical condition as of Friday morning.
Police said the attack happened outside of the Day Service Center, a facility for the homeless on North Avenue that is operated by Advantage Behavioral Health Systems.
Smith was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony.
Sullens had extensive damage to his skull, with several large lacerations on his head and face, as well as skull fractures, according to his sister. She said that part of Sullen’s skull was lodged in his brain, which was “bulging through the openings in the fractures.”
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Smith is currently on parole for an aggravated assault conviction in Athens-Clarke County.
Court records indicate that Smith had cut a man’s neck with a razor in 2017.
He is being held without bail at the Clarke County Jail.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department asked for anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Lt. Norris at David.norris@accgov.com or (762)-400-7165.
Homeless, but not macheteless. Is there no check for weapons? Apparently not.
Smith was sentenced to 7 years beginning with time served dating to AUGUST 2017.
At this point, Smith should not be homeless for a long time.
I am sorry to see this. My hope and prayer is for a full recovery for Mr Sullens.