MIAMI – A Burger King employee was arrested for shooting a customer at a Burger King restaurant in northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday afternoon.
Police identified the woman as Shateasha Hicks, 30.
Officers say it started when a man drove up to a Burger King diner in the 4700 block of NW 167th Street just after 4 p.m.
WATCH 17 MARCH 2021 SHOOTING REPORT
Police are looking for an employee after gunshots were allegedly heard at a Burger King restaurant in Miami-Dade Thursday afternoon.
Hicks was seen arguing with a customer when he abruptly left, and that’s when witnesses said Hicks left the restaurant and grabbed a gun from her car.
Police said they fired five shots at the car as the man drove away.
Hicks left the scene in her car but was later arrested after police found her abandoned about a mile from her home, investigators said.
TIME: Reports of gunshots led police to a Burger King restaurant in northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday afternoon. Police are now looking for an officer they believe is responsible for the shooting. https://t.co/WFLrZVrN9b
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPGLocal10) March 17, 2022
Police also arrested Uncle Hicks after he refused to allow police to search their home, authorities said.
Hicks is now charged with firing a firearm in public. She is expected to be released on bail from the Turner Guildford Knight Correctional Center on Friday.
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A witness who identified himself as Kevin said he was buying a burger at the time.
“He was making faces at her through the car window, here on the road, and that’s when he stopped here, and it just pissed her off,” he said.
Hicks’ aunt says her niece was defensive.
“She protected herself. I don’t blame her. Everyone else could, but I don’t,” she said.
The man who was shot was never found and his condition remains unknown.
Burger King released the following statement to Local 10 News:
“We learn with horror about the events that unfolded in this place. Such unacceptable behavior is inconsistent with the values of safety and protection of our brand. Our franchisee cooperates with local authorities. As this is still an ongoing investigation, we are unable to share further information at this time.”
A Burger King spokesperson also said they could confirm that the restaurant was free of weapons “at any time before or during the incident.”
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