Man arrested after shooting at Phoenix Jack in the Box leaves 1 worker dead, another hurt
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- A man is accused of shooting at two Jack in the Box employees, killing one in north Phoenix late Thursday night.
Phoenix police say they were called out to 18th Avenue and Bell Road around 10:30 p.m. following a fight between two employees and 29-year-old Christopher Candia at the drive-thru window. During the fight, Candia reportedly fired multiple rounds into the restaurant, hitting a man and woman inside. One of the employees, 19-year-old Jorge Valenzuela Ramirez, died a short time later at the hospital. The 22-year-old woman, whose identity has not yet been released, is hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Candia drove away before officers arrived but later turned himself in. Police say he admitted to being the suspect in the shooting and was booked into the Maricopa County jail on multiple charges, including murder. The investigation is ongoing.
Cory Hicks and Samarra Clemons live near the restaurant and were shocked by the news. “This kind of thing doesn’t deserve to happen. It’s not supposed to happen,” said Hicks. Clemons said she’s stopped by the Jack in the Box several times. “I come here pretty often, but not seeing a regular face anymore is heartbreaking. Just them doing their job, it shouldn’t be something that they’re losing their life over,” she said.
Other neighboring business owners, including Wingstop general manager Edwin Bell, are calling for more security around the restaurants. “It’s not safe around the area. We need more police or somebody around here,” said Bell.
Friday afternoon, Jack in the Box released the following statement:
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