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Pizza man, robber exchange gunfire
Updated: 4/14/2005 5:38 PM
By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A pizza delivery driver is recovering after being robbed and shot Wednesday night at the Winter Woods apartment complex in south Charlotte. Police say a suspect approached the driver, demanded money and shot him in the shoulder.
The Papa John's employee was also armed and fired a shot at the robber in self-defense, but police say carrying a gun might not be the best course of action for delivery drivers.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Bobby Martin and his family right now,†said Bobby Meroney, director of operations of Papa John’s in Charlotte. “We wish him speedy recovery.â€
Bobby Martin, the 41-year-old driver for a Papa John's restaurant on Sharon Road West, remains in fair condition after taking a bullet in the shoulder. Although he missed, Martin also fired a shot at the suspect with a gun he took on the delivery.
While it is not against North Carolina law for him to carry an unconcealed weapon, it is against Papa John's policy.
“We have rules posted in the stores constantly reminding about the security issues out there,†Meroney said.
Gun shop owner Larry Hyatt says the people that make such rules “are not out there delivering the pizzas, they are sitting in the corporate office.†In fact, he says more and more business people are buying handguns, especially those who travel alone or at night.
“The big corporations are afraid of lawsuits so they don't want their employees to have any kind of weapon for self-defense,†Hyatt said.
Police say the best defense for someone in Martin’s situation is no defense at all. Recently, in a similar case, the pizza delivery man involved sensed something was wrong. He never made the delivery; instead he tracked down the police.
“Our officers posed as that delivery person, went to that location and arrested a couple of subjects,†said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spokesman Keith Bridges.
While Martin recovers, Papa John's says it is working with police and is also in the midst of an internal investigation.
“We're going to look out for the team member, but anytime an accident happens on the job, it's a shame,†Meroney said.
Papa John's will not say whether Martin will be fired for violating company policy for carrying a weapon on the job.
Police are still looking for the suspect involved in this shooting.
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?AC=&ArID=91363&SecID=2
Updated: 4/14/2005 5:38 PM
By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A pizza delivery driver is recovering after being robbed and shot Wednesday night at the Winter Woods apartment complex in south Charlotte. Police say a suspect approached the driver, demanded money and shot him in the shoulder.
The Papa John's employee was also armed and fired a shot at the robber in self-defense, but police say carrying a gun might not be the best course of action for delivery drivers.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Bobby Martin and his family right now,†said Bobby Meroney, director of operations of Papa John’s in Charlotte. “We wish him speedy recovery.â€
Bobby Martin, the 41-year-old driver for a Papa John's restaurant on Sharon Road West, remains in fair condition after taking a bullet in the shoulder. Although he missed, Martin also fired a shot at the suspect with a gun he took on the delivery.
While it is not against North Carolina law for him to carry an unconcealed weapon, it is against Papa John's policy.
“We have rules posted in the stores constantly reminding about the security issues out there,†Meroney said.
Gun shop owner Larry Hyatt says the people that make such rules “are not out there delivering the pizzas, they are sitting in the corporate office.†In fact, he says more and more business people are buying handguns, especially those who travel alone or at night.
“The big corporations are afraid of lawsuits so they don't want their employees to have any kind of weapon for self-defense,†Hyatt said.
Police say the best defense for someone in Martin’s situation is no defense at all. Recently, in a similar case, the pizza delivery man involved sensed something was wrong. He never made the delivery; instead he tracked down the police.
“Our officers posed as that delivery person, went to that location and arrested a couple of subjects,†said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spokesman Keith Bridges.
While Martin recovers, Papa John's says it is working with police and is also in the midst of an internal investigation.
“We're going to look out for the team member, but anytime an accident happens on the job, it's a shame,†Meroney said.
Papa John's will not say whether Martin will be fired for violating company policy for carrying a weapon on the job.
Police are still looking for the suspect involved in this shooting.
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?AC=&ArID=91363&SecID=2