Posted on 12/30/2005 7:37:00 AM PST by John W
NEW ALBANY, Ind. - A McDonald's maintenance worker who pulled out his gun and fired two shots at a woman who was robbing another employee at gunpoint has been suspended from his job.
While police officials say Clifton Brown Jr. violated no laws last week when he fired the shots shortly after the restaurant's midnight closing, the franchise owner said Brown violated a ban on guns at the restaurant.
The shooting happened as Brown and a co-worker were taking out the trash and a woman, who was on foot, put a gun to the back of the second employee. She then robbed the restaurant in the city just north of Louisville, Ky., through the drive-up window, police said.
Brown told police that he pulled his gun out and ordered the fleeing robber to stop. She then raised her own gun and he fired two shots, which apparently missed the woman, before she continued to flee.
City police Detective Keith Whitlow said he was "not overly enthused about untrained individuals engaging in stuff like that," but that once the robber raised her gun, Brown "was in jeopardy" and had a right to defend himself.
Brown has a permit to carry the handgun, Whitlow said.
Restaurant owner Ron Vanover said Thursday that Brown had been suspended from his job while the shooting was being reviewed. He said he considered Brown's actions inappropriate.
"I think that's common sense," Vanover said. "Money can be replaced; lives cannot."
Brown could not be located for comment as no home telephone number in the New Albany area was listed in his name.
BTTT
Good resume builder. Ought to be able to get a job at a security firm. On his way up.
A bit more detail in the original robbery story from the local paper (New Albany Tribune)---
Published: December 27, 2005 10:09 pm
Armed woman targets McDonald’s drive-thru
From Staff Reports
newsroom@news-tribune.net
Shortly after midnight on Christmas Eve morning, an armed robber got away with an undetermined amount of money from the McDonald’s at 2107 State St.
“We’ve had an increase this year in our armed robberies around town,” said Capt. Keith Whitlow, New Albany Police chief of detectives.
Investigating officers were told by witnesses a heavyset black woman of medium height armed with a handgun and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a red cloth fashioned into a mask that covered her face robbed the restaurant from outside one of the drive-up windows.
A few moments earlier, the woman had confronted two employees outside the business who were cleaning up for the night. She demanded that the employees help her gain access to the restaurant through a locked door.
When the employees could not get the attention of other workers inside, the woman grew impatient and walked to the drive-up window, forcing open the sliding glass door.
The cashier behind the window complied with the robber’s demands for money and emptied the register.
“What was surprising was her persistence,” Whitlow said. “She followed through with it until she got what she wanted.”
As the woman fled the scene on foot, a McDonald’s employee fired two shots at her, but missed. The McDonald’s employee was licensed in Indiana to carry a concealed handgun.
I’m not overly enthused about untrained individuals doing this, but he (had) a right to self defense and this gentleman was lawfully armed,” Whitlow said.
No one was injured during the robbery.
This is the second robbery involving a black female of the same description to take place along State Street in the last six weeks.
On Nov. 11, employees at Kroger gas pumps were doing their final cleanup when a woman robbed them at gunpoint, Whitlow said.
In my company, such a man would be made supervisor.
"Money can be replaced; lives cannot."
This deep thinking owner must have a crystal ball.
How does he know the robber wouldn't just shoot the person she just robbed to eliminate witnesses?
Sounds like Ron should be working the fryer instead of owning the place...
I was just thinking the same, I would be giving the guy a medal!! What a world we are living in, it makes me give serious thought to moving to our last "frontier",ALASKA.
To the tune of "If I had a Hammer":
If I were a robber,
I'd rob 'er at McDonalds,
I'd rob at other places,
That ban all your guns.
Unless the workers were violating some policy when taking out the trash they may want to sue the wimpy owner for not providing security while they were working. The least the owner could do would be to provide money for the workers to give to robbers when not in the building. After all, it's only money. That way no lives would be at risk and anyone who wants to rob them should be satisfied.
More from the owner from another article---
Ron Vanover, owner of the restaurant, said yesterday that guns are prohibited at McDonald's. Vanover said Brown is suspended "pending an investigation."
Calling it a personnel matter, he would not say what might happen at the end of the investigation.
"It's just unfortunate that it happened and it's unfortunate that somebody reacted that way," Vanover said of the robbery and the firing of shots. He called Brown's reaction inappropriate.
"I think that's common sense. Money can be replaced; lives cannot," Vanover said.
"the franchise owner said Brown violated a ban on guns at the restaurant."
So the only people who can have guns are the criminals. Sounds like the UK, and Canada. People should boycott this and all other restaurants owned by this franchise owner.
Liberal drivel from someone who has never encountered a criminal whacko who kills his victims.
Jerks like this are why criminals are set free to commit the crimes over and over again.
How many stories have you read in which the perp forced everyone to the basement before killing them all? Ron is only thinking of lawsuits, not any of his employees' lives.
"Money can be replaced; lives cannot."Quite frankly, the lives of parasitical predators have less value than what they try to steal.
-Eric
That's McDonalds corporate policy, he was just quote the OMT. Depending on where you live they don't care if customers are armed, but it's a no-no for employees.
Ditto - Hey Vanover: STFU!
And, you can bet your sweet a$$ that Ronnie boy would not have offered to reimburse the robbed employee, the lefty would have had multiple prepared excuses why the employee was on their own and he was not responsible.......this appears to be typical of most McD's owners, another reason I would go hungry before patronizing one of their stores.
Reminds me of when Mary Caitlin Mahonney and other employees were shot and killed at a Starbucks in DC. If they had guns they might still be alive.
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