HOUSTON -- A McDonald's
employee was shot in the stomach during an armed robbery in southwest Houston. It
happened on Feb. 8 in the 10000 block of Beechnut near Wilcrest.
Surveillance video
shows a mother at the McDonald's counter with her child in her arms. Feet away,
three masked gunmen storm the restaurant. They put a gun to the mother's head.
We spoke to the woman's husband who was sitting in the car outside.
"My wife went
inside to get food for the kids. I was looking down and I heard a gunshot go
off. When I looked up, I saw a man in between the tables with a gun
pointing," said the witness. You can also see a 7-year-old boy playing in
the video when the men stormed the place.
"My son was by the
toy display, looking at the happy meal toys. He was looking at the animated
cups," said the witness. He quickly ran to his mother where they ducked
for cover. Right after, an employee was shot in the stomach. You can see the
shooter with the gun.
"The employee who
was shot was working the front register. As he was backing away, he may have
been moving to slow for the suspect," said HPD Officer George Collin
Craig.
The manager then was
held at gun point while the gunmen cleaned out the cash register. While the
robbery was happening, dad was waiting in the car and started panicking.
"I thought they
shot my wife and kids. So at that moment I drove around to look for the
criminal and thought I will run him over. Three came out with guns," said
the witness.
The McDonald's robbery
happened just hours after a T-Mobile store was robbed. That happened just a few
blocks away. That happened in broad daylight with several customers inside.
Shots were fired.
"They're showing a
complete disregard for life at this point, they're firing weapons at
employees," said the officer. Over at the McDonald's, customers are left
nervous. "We eat here almost every day because I don't cook," said
Germaine Duncan.
The suspects took off
in a silver colored 4-door sedan. The McDonald's employee is undergoing
surgery. Call Crime Stoppers with any information at 713-222-TIPS. You can
remain anonymous and receive a $5,000 reward.