A Delta flight attendant slashed a co-worker and hotel security guard after a late night and early morning of heavy, “blacked out” drinking, officials said Wednesday.
Joshua Smith, 36, remained locked up in a New Orleans jail on Wednesday and is facing one count of attempted second-degree murder and several other battery and assault charges stemming from the bloody Monday morning incident, authorities said.
Smith and “several other coworkers were returning to their” riverfront hotel when he started bickering with the victim, New Orleans police said in a statement.
“The victim escorted the suspect to his room at which time an argument ensued and the suspect cut the victim twice on the arm and once to the neck,” according to police. “The victim relocated to another floor of the hotel to seek help, and the suspect followed her.”
A “security guard attempted to intervene, and the suspect cut him on the thumb,” police added.
While Smith was booked for attempted murder, defense lawyer Thomas Calogero said his client shouldn’t be charged with that alleged crime once the case reaches prosecutors.
“I don’t believe there was an intent to murder,” the attorney said.
The 3 a.m. call to the end of Poydras Street came following a night of big partying in the Big Easy, according to Calogero.
“The group was drinking and he had blacked out,” the lawyer said. “He (Smith) has no memory of the incident at all, nothing.”
Representatives for Delta and the Association of Flight Attendants could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday.
Calogero said he highly doubts his client will ever be able to work as a flight attendant again.
“I don’t think so. I mean I’m sure he’s going to lose his job at Delta,” the lawyer said. “I expect him to.”
