Athens homeless facility employee still in ICU following machete attack, will likely lose an eye

Christopher Sullens (Facebook )

By Joe Johnson

An employee of the Day Service Center for the homeless on North Avenue in Athens on Saturday remained in the intensive care unit of Grady Memorial Hospital, one day after he was brutally attacked while going to his car after work.

Christopher Sullens, 53, suffered extensive damage to his skull, large lacerations on his head and face, and swelling of the brain.

His sister, Teresa Sullens-Baker, on Saturday told WSB-TV that he was taken off of a ventilator, and that he will likely lose one of his eyes.

Sullens as he appeared Friday in the ICU at Grady Memorial Hospital

The homeless man who attacked Sullens is 33-year-old Cedric Courtes Smith, a convicted felon who was on parole in connection with a 2017 assault in Athens in which he cut a man’s neck with a razor.

Cedric Courtes Smith

He is in detention at the Clarke County Jail on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, and violating parole.

Any possible motives for his attacking Sullens were unknown.

Smith was denied bail at an appearance Saturday before a Magistrate Court judge.