Waffle House worker stabbed as he confronts dine-and-dashers, Oklahoma cops say

A Waffle House employee was stabbed in an apparent act of self-defense, according to Oklahoma authorities and news reports.

Officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department said the altercation began July 21 when a group walked out on paying their bill at the restaurant, according to KFOR.

Some of the Waffle House workers followed the group outside and engaged in a fight with them in the parking lot, Sgt. Dillon Quirk told the station.

A worker accused of cornering one of the customers and punching him was attacked in return when the customer stabbed him, KWTV reported.

Police told KWTV the employee was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A bystander intervened in the altercation by grabbing a gun and pointing it at two of the people fighting, who both fled, according to KOCO.

The armed man also fled on foot before being taken into custody on firearm charges, police told the station.

No other arrests have been announced. Police told the news outlets the accused stabber acted in self-defense.

This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 10:21 AM with the headline "Waffle House worker stabbed as he confronts dine-and-dashers, Oklahoma cops say."