Inset: Burlie Dawson Locklear. Background: Surveillance photos capture images of a gunman who killed Locklear at a Waffle House in North Carolina (Laurinburg Police Department).
A North Carolina man got angry waiting for his food and shot and killed a teenage Waffle House employee, and a search was underway to find the killer.
Burlie Dawson Locklear, 18, was shot at 12:42 a.m. on Friday at a Waffle House in Laurinburg, police said in a news release. Laurinburg is about 100 miles southwest of Raleigh.
Officers responded to shots fired at the restaurant and found Locklear suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at a hospital.
The gunman — caught on surveillance video — is described as Black, with light skin, long dreadlocks, and a beard and mustache. He is 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, weighs 140 to 180 pounds and was last seen wearing a dark blue pullover hoodie, bluejeans, and white shoes.
Police said the gunman went to the business and ordered food. As his food was being made, he became agitated and verbally abusive toward the employees, police said. Once given his order, he walked toward a dark gray 2014 model Chevrolet, turned and fired two shots toward the business, striking Locklear, and then drove off.
Police asked anyone with information to contact the Laurinburg Police Department Lt. J. White at 910-276-3211 or call anonymously at 910-266-8146.
Local CBS affiliate WBTW reported the Waffle House issued a statement, saying: “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 death of our Associate, 18-year-old Burlie Dawson Locklear, known simply as ‘Dawson’ to his friends and family, is horrific,” the statement said. “We offer our sincerest and deepest sympathy to his family and friends. We are offering free counseling services to our Associates as we all mourn this tragic loss of life.”
“We are working closely with law enforcement as they investigate this matter,” the statement added. “We will do whatever we can to help the authorities find and arrest this murderer. We refer all media questions concerning the investigation to local law enforcement. We will have no further comment at this time.”
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