A teenage employee at a Waffle House in Laurinburg, North Carolina, was fatally shot in the early hours of Friday morning, following a dispute with a customer over a food order. The victim, identified as 18-year-old Burlie Dawson Locklear, was shot at approximately 12:42 a.m., according to local law enforcement.
The Laurinburg Police Department responded to reports of gunfire at the restaurant, where they discovered Locklear suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the teenager succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, who remains at large, was captured on surveillance footage at the scene. He is described as a light-skinned Black man with long dreadlocks, a beard, and a mustache. Standing between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10, and weighing between 140 and 180 pounds, he was last seen wearing a dark blue pullover hoodie, blue jeans, and white shoes.
According to police reports, the suspect entered the Waffle House and placed an order. As his food was being prepared, he became increasingly agitated and verbally abusive towards the staff. After receiving his order, he walked towards a dark gray 2014 Chevrolet, fired two shots towards the restaurant, hitting Locklear, before driving away.
The Laurinburg Police Department is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They can contact Lt. J. White at 910-276-3211 or make an anonymous call at 910-266-8146.
In a statement released by the Waffle House, the company expressed its grief over the tragic incident. The statement read, “We are mourning the tragic death of one of our Waffle House Associates, who was the victim of an outrageous act of violence early this morning at our Laurinburg, NC restaurant.” The company also extended its deepest sympathies to Locklear’s family and friends and is offering free counseling services to its associates.
The company is cooperating fully with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and is committed to assisting in any way possible to bring the perpetrator to justice. All media inquiries regarding the investigation have been directed to local law enforcement.