The parents of a North Carolina man who attempted to hold up a Pizza Hut, only to be shot and killed by an armed employee, are upset that the employee shot and killed their son, WIS-TV (Columbia) is reporting .
Early Sunday morning, Michael Grace, Jr. and two other people attempted to rob a West Charlotte Pizza Hut. Unfortunately for Grace and his companions, one of the employees was armed, and he shot and killed Grace. Grace’s companions ran away, unharmed and without any money.
Charlotte Pizza Hut Robbery Thwarted by Armed Employee https://t.co/zM2qcS8K4J via @BearingArmsCom #GunsSavingLives #2A #ArmedAmerica pic.twitter.com/GYo6UDGdWZ
— Bearing Arms (@BearingArmsCom) November 2, 2016
No customers were at the restaurant at the time of the robbery , according to WSOC-TV (Charlotte).
#BREAKING OVERNIGHT: CMPD believe someone trying to rob a west Clt Pizza Hut was shot, killed by an employee. Full story on #Daybreak at 6 pic.twitter.com/VLBHC7SbtT
— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) October 30, 2016
Grace’s parents, Michael Grace Sr. and Temia Hairston, don’t condone what their son did, but they don’t believe he deserved to die, either.
“If there was to be a death, it was not the place of the employee at Pizza Hut. That is the place of law enforcement… Even a criminal has a right to a degree. I’m not advocating what my son did.”
Grace Sr. and Hairston claim their son had used to work at the very same Pizza Hut where he died, something that the company would neither confirm nor deny. They say that he and another employee had developed a conflict and that it was that conflict that cost their son his life.
“This wasn’t a body shot. This was a head shot. My son was shot in the left side of his head just behind his ear. A headshot is personal.”
They also don’t understand why the Pizza Hut employee was carrying a gun.
Whether or not the Pizza Hut where the robbery took place allows its employees to carry guns to work is not clear, nor is it clear whether or not he’s been terminated from his job. Two days ago, Breitbart reported that he had been given a “ leave of absence .”
In a statement, Pizza Hut confirmed that the safety of its employees and customers is its top priority.
“The local Pizza Hut franchisee is fully cooperating with the Charlotte Police Department as they continue their investigation, but want to stress that the security of its staff is of utmost concern. They are providing support to the team members involved to ensure their health and well-being following this incident.”
One thing that is unlikely to happen, however, is criminal charges for the Pizza Hut employee who shot and killed the robber. Tony Scheer, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, says that North Carolina law guarantees the man’s right to defend himself.
“It’s going to be a rare case that they want to do anything to the person that defended themselves to shoot somebody.”
Grace’s parents, however, insist that the employee over-reacted. Anyone who knew Michael – including the man who killed him – would have known that Michael wouldn’t have actually hurt anyone. They also point out that Michael had fallen on hard times and had resorted to a life of crime to put food on the table for his small son.
“It was an act of desperation, but I do not believe that Michael would have hurt anyone.”
Do you believe that Michael Grace’s parents are right to be upset at the man who shot and killed their son while he was trying to rob him? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[Featured Image by Mr.Nikon /Shutterstock]
