Chefs at Japanese restaurant charged with battery after one was transported to the hospital with a knife wound

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Hung Duc Nguyen, 57, was arrested and John Chunn Ward, 35, was charged via sworn complaint after a fight between the two chefs at a Japanese restaurant ended with Ward being transported to a hospital with a knife wound.

The men reportedly started their shifts at Yamato Japanese Restaurant at 10 a.m. yesterday, and at about 11 a.m., Ward reportedly told Nguyen to hurry up because it did not look like he would be done with his prep work in time for the restaurant to open. The two chefs reportedly argued loudly, and Ward reportedly asked Nguyen to step outside to settle the disagreement.

At about 11:09 a.m., Nguyen stepped outside, and Ward allegedly attempted to punch Nguyen, but the punch missed Nguyen’s face and instead landed a “glancing blow” to Nguyen’s upper body. Nguyen allegedly stepped inside and grabbed an 8-inch kitchen knife, then went back outside and chased Ward. Ward reportedly fell on the ground while running, and several other employees tried to break up the fight, but Nguyen allegedly stood over Ward and made several attempts to stab him. One of the attempts resulted in a wound on Ward’s arm that required stitches.

Nguyen was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Post Miranda, he reportedly said he thought they were going outside to talk and was surprised when Ward hit him. He reportedly said he grabbed the knife for self-defense and “kind of blacked out”; he said he didn’t remember seeing Ward fall or stabbing him. He reportedly said he believed Ward had been injured accidentally as they struggled.

Ward, who was later charged via sworn complaint with simple battery, reportedly said he believed it was clear that they were going outside to fight, and he said he “tried to punch [Nguyen] but missed.” He said he didn’t try to fight after Nguyen came out with the knife; he just ran in an attempt to avoid being stabbed.

The responding Gainesville Police Department officer reported that there were several witnesses and surveillance video.

Nguyen, who has a Georgia driver’s license, has no local criminal history. Judge Gloria Walker ordered him held with bond.

Ward has six local misdemeanor convictions (none violent). His most recent arrest was in 2020 on a 2015 warrant for failing to appear at a hearing on a charge of driving without a valid license; the charge was later dropped.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.