PERRIS, Calif. (KABC) — A Perris man says he was attacked nearly four years ago by the same person who allegedly killed a 65-year-old employee at a Lake Elsinore Walmart earlier this week.

Arturo Juarez said the suspect in the Lake Elsinore murder, Lonnie Hinton, attacked him in a strikingly similar manner on November 8, 2020.

“I was just doing my job. That’s all,” said Juarez. “And he stabs me!”

According to a police report, Lonnie Hinton was attacked by a store clerk at Gus Jr. Restaurant in Perris after he apparently stole money from a tip jar. The clerk punched Hinton, who then left the restaurant.

But according to the report, Hinton returned about 15 minutes later armed with a knife.

“He came into the restaurant, came into the kitchen and stabbed me,” said Juarez, who had no previous relationship with Hinton and believes Hinton confused him with the employee who confronted him.

Juarez says he was stabbed three times in the back and once in the arm. He said doctors told him he was lucky to be alive because of the proximity of the stab wounds to several of his organs.

“They said it’s a miracle that you’re here, it’s a miracle,” he said.

Hinton was arrested the same day and later charged with assault with a deadly weapon, petty theft and robbery. However, the assault charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to five years in prison and was released on parole earlier this year.

Since the attack, Juarez has suffered from numerous health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and depression.

He said he wants justice in this case, not only for what happened to him, but also for Jessica Morales, the Walmart employee who Hinton allegedly killed in what investigators called a random attack.

“It was the same person, the same guy, who almost killed me. I’m shocked,” Juarez said.

Hinton is now charged with murder following Morales’ death. He is currently behind bars and is not eligible for bail.