Man critically injured in shooting inside suburban Chicago Popeyes
HARVEY, Ill. (CBS) -- Bullets flew through the windows of a Popeyes restaurant in south suburban Harvey Monday night while people ate dinner.
Harvey police said at least one man was shot and taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
The scene remained active at the Popeyes at 147th and Halsted streets hours after the shooting that happened just before 5 p.m. Investigators taped off the entire parking lot of the restaurant as well as part of the lot of the business next door.
An employee said the man, later identified by Harvey police as 47-year-old Orlando Cole, was critically injured and was sitting inside the restaurant at a table when at least two people with masks walked in and shot him. The employee said he was struck at least five times.
He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. His condition was stabilized, according to police.
There was extensive damage from bullet holes in the glass door in the front of the Popeyes. Video showed multiple bullet holes on the side of the restaurant. Evidence markers were also set down. Several spent cartridge cases and DNA samples were recovered from inside and outside the restaurant, police said.
Witnesses said there were people inside the Popeyes at the time of the shooting.
"They shot up the whole front line. One of my family members got hit," a witness said. "It was bad. It was real bad."
The employee who was inside when gunfire rang out described hiding underneath a table, praying for her life.
"I was paranoid because anybody could've gotten killed they could've shot anybody. I was just under that table just fearing for my life- my nerves are real bad from that," The employee said. "You just have to stay prayed up when you come to work, hope you make it home because I've got kids to make it home to family everything."
Police had not announced any arrests but confirmed officers were looking for at least two suspects. Investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Harvey police at 708-331-2131.
