Three Taco Bell employees with guns surprised two alleged robbers who reportedly attempted to rob the Cleveland establishment, killing one, WJW-TV reported.
Officers responded to the Taco Bell on West 117th Street about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday on a report of a robbery with shots fired, per WJW-TV. One suspected robber died at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland after he was shot by store employees while a second alleged robbery fled, Cleveland police told the television station.
Police found a suspect with multiple gunshot wounds when they arrived, and he was given first aid until emergency personnel arrived, WJW-TV reported. Employees told police that two armed suspects entered the restaurant wearing masks and ordered three employees to ground, the television station stated.
Three other employees, identified as two 19-year-old men and a 23-year-old man, shot one of the alleged armed robbers six times while the other ran, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. Police have not released the names of the employees or the suspects.
Arthur Giles, one of the restaurant's owners, told the Plain Dealer that the shooting was in self-defense and none of his employees were injured during the incident.
"Taco Bell and Sigma Bell, LLC., the franchise owner of this Cleveland, Ohio, location, are shocked this happened at the restaurant," a Taco Bell statement released to the Plain Dealer said. "Our franchisee is fully cooperating with the Cleveland Police Department in their investigation. The employees are very shaken up from today's events, and our franchisee is offering them counseling."
Giles told the newspaper that he has been part of the local Taco Bell ownership group since 1999 and they have never had a fatal shooting at the restaurant.
"Everyone at the store is OK, from my understanding," Giles told the Plain Dealer. "All the employees and all the customers are safe."
Authorities told the newspaper that the shooting remained under investigation.
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