Disgruntled employee pulls gun on Atlanta boss after being fired, employer claims
'She tried to kill me': Fired employee comes back with gun, chef says
Tim Morgan, the owner of a popular catering business in Atlanta says he's lucky to be alive after being held at gunpoint by a disgruntled employee. Morgan says he fired the employee he identified as Harrita Benton after she failed to show up. She allegedly came back to the workplace with a gun.
ATLANTA - An Atlanta business owner says a disgruntled employee pulled a gun and robbed him a day after being fired.
Chef Tim Morgan tells FOX 5 Atlanta he and his employees at Tim Morgan Catering are still shaken up over the incident.
"I have not slept in the last 48 hours," he said. "Had another employee call out this morning out of fear."
Morgan says he fired Harrita Benton on Thursday for not showing up to an event at which she was allegedly scheduled to work.
Harrita Benton (Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office)
He says he explained her contract was being terminated and that she would need to turn in her uniform and keys on Friday morning.
However, Morgan says Benton didn't show up until later that evening, and came with an ulterior motive.
"She had a key to the building. She came into the building and she was dressed for the part. She had on a hoodie, she had on sweatpants and tennis shoes, and she had a pistol in her waist," Morgan said. "Her intention was to kill me."
Chef Tim Morgan
The chef says his life flashed before his eyes until another employee stepped in the way. He says Benton then stole his phone and took off.
She was arrested later that night and charged with simple battery and theft by taking. She was booked into the Fulton County Jail.
Still, Chef Morgan says his employees are afraid. He tells FOX 5 Atlanta he has hired additional security in the meantime.
The Source: This is an original FOX 5 Atlanta report. Joi Dukes spoke with Atlanta Chef Tim Morgan.