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Chick-fil-A employee fights off burglar
A Stone Mountain Chick-fil-A employee told FOX 5 Atlanta he's grateful to be alive after he came face-to-face with an armed robber and managed to fight him off.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - The Gwinnett County Police Department says they have arrested an armed robbery suspect who engaged in a prolonged struggle with a Chick-fil-A employee on the morning of July 1.
"It was a relatively normal day for me. I come in, I put up the trucks, get everything out of everybody's way," Kevin Blair told FOX 5.
According to a press release, officers responded to the incident at 5075 Stone Mountain Highway around 4:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from the victim, an inventory specialist for the restaurant.
"By the time I got back there to the pallet, the guy came up behind me and had the gun right, basically, to the back of my head. Told me to go to the safe, open the safe," Blair said.
Blair told police the suspect broke through a drive-thru window with a rock and entered the kitchen area, brandishing a handgun and threatening the victim's life if he did not open the safe.
"I tried to explain to the guy that I don't have access to the safe," he explained. "Through some discussion, he basically told me that if I didn't open the safe, I was going to die."
Tommie Lee Williams
Unable to comply due to not knowing the safe's combination, Blair chose to fight off the armed robber.
The struggle, captured on surveillance video, lasted several minutes, during which the victim managed to remove the suspect's mask.
"We fought for roughly three minutes. You know, him throwing punches, knees, kicks, me doing the same. A couple of cuts over my eyes and one over the top of my head. My thumb went into his eye several times and at that point in time, he had kind of decided he didn't want any more of it, and I certainly didn't want him in the building. So, we came to a mutual unspoken agreement to escort him out the back door and let him go on his way," Blair explained.
The suspect fled the scene through a rear exit before police arrived. Detectives, assigned to the case, quickly began gathering evidence and identified a vehicle believed to be used by the suspect. This led to the identification of Tommie Lee Williams, 51.
Warrants were issued for Williams on multiple charges, including armed robbery, aggravated assault, second-degree burglary, kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and second-degree criminal damage to property. Williams was apprehended on July 31 with assistance from the U.S. Marshals and the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department.
Blair said he's thankful the police made an arrest, but even more thankful he was able to go home to his family.
"I have a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old, and I'm glad to still be here for them," he said.
Blair added that his training in the martial arts likely helped to save his life.
"I am a huge proponent for learning some type of self-defense. You know, hopefully you don't have to be in a situation where you use it but it's much better to have a tool you reach for when you need it than to not have it," he said.
Williams remained in the Gwinnett County Adult Detention Center late Wednesday night without bond.
A spokesperson with Chick-fil-A tells FOX 5 that the safety of their team and guests is a top priority, and they're working closely with police as they conduct their investigation.