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Report: Woman stabs ex-boyfriend at Jacksonville Burger King

A Jacksonville woman was arrested after allegedly spraying her ex-boyfriend with mace and stabbing him outside Burger King.

Officers were called to the Burger King on Philips Highway just after 6:45 a.m. Tuesday after someone reported their 57-year-old coworker had been stabbed and was bleeding.

A trauma alert was issued for the man and April Vereen, 41, was detained at the scene.

Burger King employees told police the victim is a cook at the Burger King and was scheduled to work at 7 a.m.

They said Vereen is his ex-girlfriend and works at the Ruby Tuesday across the street at The Avenues Mall.

According to the victim's coworkers, Vereen "frantically" came into the restaurant and placed a large kitchen knife on the main front counter.

The report says the victim also came inside, fell to the floor and asked his coworkers to call 911. He told his coworkers Vereen had stabbed him.

An assistant manager said Vereen was in a "rage" and said, "Ya'll checking on him and he tried to kill me."

The report says when officers interviewed the victim at the hospital, he said he had gotten off the bus at the mall and went across the street to buy cigarettes and a beer.

He said he was smoking and drinking his beer before work when Vereen sprayed him with mace three or four times.

He told police he grabbed her, then felt a sharp object on his left side.

He said Vereen then fled inside the Burger King.

The sheriff's office report says the victim was stabbed in the upper hip area. A nurse told officers he had a 2-inch cut that was 6 inches deep.

The suspect also had a cut on her left hand between her thumb and finger.

The report says surveillance video appeared to show her carrying the knife as she was walked into the Burger King.

Vereen was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to JSO.