Fast food manager describes scariest moment of life after being robbed at gunpoint
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A McDonald’s manager is back at work just days after being robbed at gunpoint on the west side of Indianapolis.
It happened near Lafayette Road and 38th Street late Saturday night. Police ended up shooting and killing one of the suspects.
The manager said he thought he was going to die that night. He told 24-Hour News 8 he tried to remain calm, but saw an opportunity to run and took the chance.
McDonald’s on West 38th Street was opened for business Thursday evening. Some customers heard about the violent robbery. Ben Vakili didn’t hear about it. He lived through it.
“I’m not lying, that was the most scariest moment of my life,” he said. “When you have no idea if you’re alive the next minute or not.”
Vakili is the store manager. He said it was just like any other night. The main lobby was closed, but the drive thru was still open. He said out of nowhere, two men came storming out of the bathrooms.
“I’ve been robbed before at my last job but it was nothing like this,” he said. “Nothing like this, this one was pretty crazy.”
According to court documents, an officer got there, looked in the drive thru window and saw two men with masks and guns. The suspects now identified as Briscoe Jones, 27, and Cameron Gover, 30.
Documents stated Gover ordered Vakili and three other employees to the back room.
“When he had the gun pointed at my head and asking me to open the safe and I really thought as I opened that safe, he was going to shoot and kill me,” he said. “So that was my thought and that was the reason actually why I ran from them.”
He added, “They blame me and think I’m stupid I ran but in the situation like that you’re the only one can make that decision.”
Documents stated Jones stayed in the front with another employee. Gover returned and saw police. Both ran towards the door, but when they opened it both realized they were surrounded by officers and got back in. Gover ran out the back door with a gun in hand and was shot by police.
“Seeing a guy get shot even a bad guy and die right in front of your face it don’t matter who it is,” he said. “It’s still mess you up in the head.”
Vakili said he’s been struggling with what happened ever since. He knows he can’t let the incident consumed him and returned back to work. His employees now too scared to return to work.
“I thought if I come back to work I’d probably get over it quicker so i just can go on, but I’m the only one that’s okay actually,” he said. “The other ones are pretty messed up right now.”
Documents stated that after Gover was shot, Jones went into the bathroom and got rid of the gun and hoodie. He came out and told police he was an employee. Witnesses were able to identify him as the suspect.
Jones is now facing several charges, including murder, robbery, and criminal confinement. He’s scheduled to be back in court on May 24th
