MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — In a harrowing incident in North Memphis, a restaurant owner was forced to shoot an aggressor to protect herself and her family. The late-night encounter occurred at the Mr. Potato Head eatery in North Hollywood when a scantily-clad man, known to the women from the neighborhood, forcefully entered the premises seeking water. The situation escalated rapidly as the individual became violent, unable to exit due to the self-locking doors he had previously shut.
The assailant proceeded to damage property and assaulted the owner, even as she brandished a firearm, urging him to stay calm. Overwhelmed by fear due to his significant size and aggressive demeanor, she ultimately had to use her weapon as he further threatened her and her sister, who was also present at the scene.
“I was just afraid of his strength,” she said. “I’m pointing at him, asking him to calm down and stay away or get out of the store which the door was jammed, and he had no way out, so therefore I was between a rock and a hard place, and I just did what I had to do,” she said.
The aftermath of the ordeal was captured in a live stream by the owner’s sister, who sought to keep their family informed amidst the uncertainty and potential repercussions. The Memphis Police responded to the emergency call, confirming that the attacker succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. While the owner was temporarily detained, she faces no charges as of now.
Grappling with the tragic outcome, she stressed that she hadn’t intended to kill but had reacted in self-defense to protect herself and her family. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations business owners might find themselves in, compelling them to make split-second decisions under extreme duress.
