(DailyVantage.com) – A dispute at a drive-thru in Tennessee resulted in a customer shooting an employee and leaving her to die at the restaurant.
On Monday, July 8, a woman fatally shot a Church’s Chicken employee around 9 p.m. on Park Avenue, roughly six miles from downtown Memphis. Law enforcement is still searching for the culprit, who was recorded by surveillance cameras. The suspect appeared to be of dark complexion with pink hair and drove a teal-colored SUV.
When the Memphis Police Department (MPD) responded to the scene, they discovered the employee unresponsive. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, pronounced dead shortly after, and later identified as 48-year-old Anitra West.
The shooting was preceded by an argument between the culprit and the victim, although the topic of that argument was unknown. The suspect drove off in her SUV after the argument and a short time later, West went outside to get some air. According to the police report, surveillance audio captured the sound of a gunshot followed by footage of the teal SUV speeding away from the scene.
The MPD eventually located the vehicle. The suspect was identified as 45-year-old Monica Williams and a warrant was issued for her arrest on Thursday, July 11, for charges of first-degree murder. On Monday, July 15, MPD located Williams and took her into custody.
In order to address the victim’s family’s needs and the needs of its team members, the Church’s Chicken location on Park Avenue closed temporarily. In an announcement, a spokesperson said the company was working closely with law enforcement and “deeply saddened” by the loss of West, extending “thoughts and prayers” to her family.
West’s death was the 173rd homicide in Memphis in 2024. Her family remembers her as a beloved daughter, mother, and wife. Her father-in-law said, “She was a good girl” and remembered her fondly as someone who stood out and “was different.” He said her absence felt like something unique was now “missing” from his life.
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