An Imperial Beach barber is accused of slicing his customer’s throat after the victim was found bleeding profusely on the shop’s floor Monday, according to San Diego County Sheriff’s officials.
Investigators say barber Daniel Flores, 22, took off from Vic’s Barbershop on Palm Avenue after he cut his customer’s neck just after 3 p.m.
The victim, 33-year-old Timothy Vaughn, was discovered with multiple slices to the center part of his throat, just under his chin.
"It was very painful. He was lying on his back, he had his feet in the air and he had both hands wrapped around his neck," said James Arnold, who was walking outside the shop when he heard someone cry for help.
Arnold, a security guard at Viejas Casino, told NBC 7 he rushed in to help the victim with others in the shop, applying pressure to the wound with towels to stop the bleeding. He estimated the slash was about an inch and a half deep, but Vaughn could still speak.
He told his helpers to contact his wife and let her know what happened.
Paramedics took Vaughn to the UC San Diego Medical Center in critical condition, though officials say his injuries are not life-threatening.
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As deputies began searching for the suspect, the barbershop’s owner called in Flores’ aunt to ask where he may be. While she was at the shop, Flores called his aunt from her house in San Diego.
With the help of San Diego Police officers, deputies arrested the suspect a block from his aunt’s home.
Flores was booked into the San Diego County Jail on one count of attempted murder.
Detectives with the Imperial Beach substation will continue the investigation.
NBC 7 talked with Jim and Sue Powell, whose son gets his haircut at Vic's Barbershop. They say they were shocked to hear something like this happened at the family business known for its friendly owner.
"You put your own life in somebody's hands at that slight moment," said Jim, "and I don't know if there was any anger or hostility, or if there was bad blood between the two people, why would he even sit in his chair?"
Police have not determined a possible motive in the attack. Both Flores' family and the barbershop's owner declined to comment.
An employee at a nearby business said Flores had a mean demeanor, while Vaughn was a nice guy and a repeat customer at Vic's.