A Jack in the Box employee in Los Angeles was hospitalized Tuesday morning after he was stabbed outside while taking a break, according to police.

Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department concluded that when the suspect approached, the employee was taking a break around 2 a.m. local time outside the fast food restaurant in Winnetka, a neighborhood in the west-central San Fernando Valley.

The restaurant was closed at the time but the drive-thru was open.

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When the employee denied the man entry into the restaurant, he became angry and stabbed the employee before fleeing, local media reported. The victim was treated at the hospital and is expected to survive, police said.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact the LAPD.

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Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]