A Mid-South family is navigating the aftermath of violence, as a mother appeals for greater security measures in the wake of her son's shooting at Zaxby's. Katina Glover's son, 26-year-old Jeremy, an employee of the establishment for ten years, sustained gunshot wounds in both legs during an attempted carjacking, according to WREG. The incident transpired Sunday night after Jeremy closed up at the Houston Levee Road location.
Reports indicate that as Jeremy exited the restaurant and approached his car, a dark-colored Dodge Challenger blocked his path, and an assailant demanded he surrender the vehicle. Despite complying, Jeremy was shot as he opened his car door; however, the suspect fled without taking the car. No arrests have been made. Glover's primary concern is the security—or the lack thereof—for workers in similar positions. "I guess a lot of these restaurants don’t believe in security — even if you paid for an hour or two at the end of the shift to make sure your managers or whoever is closing up are protected," she said in a statement reported by WREG.
In a fortunate twist of fate, an off-duty firefighter, Thomas Hill, was on the scene to administer lifesaving aid. After hearing the commotion from a nearby bar, Hill immediately tended to Jeremy's injuries before medical professionals arrived. "My mind just automatically was like, 'Let me get him out of this car,'" Hill recounted in an interview with Local Memphis, emphasizing the use of his training to control bleeding until help arrived.
Following this harrowing incident, the victim's mother had an emotional meeting with Hill, wherein she expressed profound gratitude for his intervention. "For someone to just take that initiative to just say, 'Hey, I don't know what the danger may be, but I'm going to help this young man,'" Glover told Local Memphis. However, her relief is accompanied by a resolute demand for justice and a call to address shortcomings in the penal system, a sentiment shared by Hill, who advocates for more stringent repercussions for violent offenders.
While Jeremy's recovery continues, the incident has raised concerns regarding employee safety and public security. Glover's hope is for this experience to serve as a catalyst for change and an improvement in protective measures for those finishing late-night shifts. During their first conversation since the attack, Jeremy told Hill, "You probably made the difference in me being here and being gone because I was losing a lot of blood." This encounter not only connected him with his savior but also illuminated the stark realities that workers like him face daily, as reported by Local Memphis.
