Armed Taco Bell employee fatally shot robbery suspect

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - A late night local food favorite was the scene of a deadly overnight shooting.

What's known so far in this still developing story is that one person lost his life in an apparent robbery attempt at a Taco Bell, located at 1531 West 117th St.

Five employees, all men, ranging in age from 19 to 44 were inside working during the attempted robbery. Three of the employees had guns.

Janell Gaughan dropped by her old workplace for a bite to eat at lunchtime. She was surprised to hear about the fatal shooting that happened at her former job.

"It's real bad in there.  A lot people have overdosed in there. I've seen a lot of stuff go on in there. That's crazy, oh my god."

Janell, although not knowing all the circumstances surrounding the early morning shooting, did offer up this bit of information about her former workplace.

"Most of the time they were illegally carrying guns in there."

The person shot was the would-be robber, who was armed.  The employees who shot and fatally wounded him reportedly shot in self defense.

"We were always told if anybody robs the store we're supposed to let them rob the store. Not supposed to shoot them or anything like that. Supposed to let them rob us. We can get fired behind that. That was the protocol at all times," she said.

Police say multiple shots were fired and when the smoke cleared one suspected robber was dead, his partner ran away.

The Taco Bell media team offered the following in response to the fatal shooting:

"Taco Bell and Sigma Bell, LLC., the franchise owner of this Cleveland, Ohio location, are shocked this happened at the restaurant. Our franchisee is fully cooperating with the Cleveland Police Department in their investigation. The employees are very shaken up from today's events, and our franchisee is offering them counseling."

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