51-year-old Tommie Lee Williams was arrested in Gwinnett County, Georgia after attempting an armed robbery at a Chick-fil-A restaurant around 4:30 am. Williams, allegedly armed and masked, broke into the Chick-fil-A at Stone Mountain Highway and threatened a delivery driver in the kitchen area using a handgun. The victim, a delivery driver for the business, stated that Williams smashed through a drive-thru window and demanded the safe’s combination at gunpoint. The victim, however, did not know the combination and decided to fight off the armed robber. Surveillance footage captured the struggle between the two men, with the Chick-fil-A worker ultimately removing Williams’ mask.
The Chick-fil-A worker successfully removed the armed robber’s mask during the struggle, which led to the suspect’s identity being corroborated by the police. Williams then fled from the premises out a back door, but detectives were able to identify a vehicle believed to have been used in the attempted armed robbery, leading to Williams’ arrest. Williams was taken into custody for armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary in the 2nd degree, kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and criminal damage to property in the 2nd degree.
Officers arrived at the scene after the victim called 911, and the police department shared details of the incident on Facebook. The surveillance footage showed the delivery driver and Williams fighting for several minutes over the gun before the Chick-fil-A worker ultimately managed to remove Williams’ mask. Williams was then able to escape through a back door. The Gwinnett County Police Department was eventually able to identify a vehicle believed to have been used in the attempted robbery, which led to Williams’ arrest.
Tommie Lee Williams was eventually arrested by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of U.S. Marshals. In addition to the charges related to the armed robbery, Williams also faced charges of aggravated assault, burglary, kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and criminal damage to property. The arrest of Williams in connection with the incident highlights the swift response of law enforcement in identifying and apprehending suspects involved in violent crimes.
The incident at the Chick-fil-A in Gwinnett County, Georgia serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by individuals working in the food service industry during late-night hours. The bravery of the Chick-fil-A delivery driver in standing up to the armed robber and assisting law enforcement in identifying the suspect is commendable. The successful collaboration between the victim, law enforcement, and the community led to the swift arrest of Tommie Lee Williams and prevented any further harm from taking place. The story also highlights the importance of surveillance footage in identifying suspects and corroborating victims’ accounts of violent crimes.
