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Shooting at Decatur McDonald's sends one man to hospital
A shooting at a DeKalb County McDonald’s sent people scrambling for cover. Police say medics took one man to the hospital with injuries from the gunfire.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Police are searching for the gunman who fired several shots at a south DeKalb County fast-food restaurant just off of Interstate 20 on Monday afternoon.
It happened around 1:30 p.m. at the McDonald’s along Wesley Chapel Road just south of I-20. DeKalb County police say officers arrived to find one person shot.
"It was so much going on," Bobby Banks Jr. said.
Shards of glass from the windows of the McDonald’s on Wesley Chapel Road were scattered across the parking lot where DeKalb County investigators believe an argument escalated to gunfire.
"Somebody got shot. I heard a bunch of people…they just took off running," Banks recalled.
Banks, an employee at the 70s Car Wash next door to the restaurant, said he arrived moments after police say they responded.
He says the chaos from the shooting spilled into the parking lot of the carwash shortly after the shots were fired.
"One of the guys pulled out the gun, he saw the two guys coming toward him…he told them stay back…the guys kept coming," Banks explained.
Banks said he visits that McDonald’s often on his lunch and dinner breaks. He says he was glad he wasn’t there Monday.
"If it could go on here, it could go on anywhere...if I was here at that time I probably could’ve been like an innocent bystander," he said. "I hate that it happened and it shouldn’t have…but this should be an eye-opener…that’s all I have to say really," he continued.
Medics rushed the injured man to a nearby hospital for treatment according to police. It’s unclear what led up to the argument. A spokesperson for the restaurant released a brief statement that reads as follows:
"The safety of our crew and customers is our top priority. We are cooperating with the DeKalb County Police Department and because this is an open police investigation, we ask that all questions be directed to local law enforcement." - Lynn Miller, Local McDonald's Owner / Operator
SKYFOX 5 flew over the scene and show dozens of evidence markers in the parking lot. Video from FOX 5 crews at the scene shows the window in front of the entrance to the restaurant was shot out, with glass shards littering the sidewalk.
The name of the victim has not been released.
There are no suspects in custody at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the DeKalb County Police Department.