The man fatally shot in the Barberitos robbery may not be the killer’s first victim
A Barberitos restaurant worker fatally shot in an armed robbery Sunday night may not be the killer's first victim.
Investigators are trying to determine if the shooter is the same man who killed a Chevron convenience store clerk Jan. 13 in an armed robbery, said Warner Robins Assistant Police Chief John Wagner. The features of the suspects are similar, he said.
The suspect in the Chevron slaying was described as a skinny black male, about 6 feet tall, wearing dark clothing and partially covering his face, according to a police release. The suspect in the Barberitos killing was described as a black male, about 6 feet tall, who was wearing dark clothing and a face covering.
Police released photos Monday taken from surveillance video of the two armed robberies.
Just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Warner Robins police were dispatched to Barberitos at 3123 Watson Blvd. after shots were reported fired. They found Parker K. Moore, 23, of Kathleen, dead at the scene.
Another injured worker, a 21-year-old Centerville man who was shot in the head, was able tell police what happened. He is recovering at the Medical Center, Navicent Health.
He told police he was shot first by the robber while trying to get the money the robber had demanded out of the cash register, according to a Warner Robins police release. Moore was fatally wounded by a parting shot that the bandit fired.
A third employee who was inside the restaurant ran to the nearby Dunkin' Donuts, asking employees there to lock the doors and call 911. Four customers were also inside Barberitos when Moore was shot, Wagner said.
Video surveillance was pulled from Barberitos, the doughnut shop, a convenience store across the street, two nearby hotels and other nearby businesses.
The suspect was seen on a surveillance video at 9:28 p.m. coming from alongside a hotel near the restaurant, coming through some bushes and then running to the back door of the restaurant. The video also shows him fleeing south minutes later.
Warner Robins police patrol officers, detectives and crime scene investigators continued to work the crime scene Monday. Crime scene investigators used special equipment to make a 3-D image of the scene.
Detectives and uniform officers canvassed a parking lot and nearby field and looked in trash containers for possible evidence.
The owner, manager and assistant manager of Barberitos waited for news in the Dunkin' Donut parking lot. They declined comment, noting the investigation.
Police officers also guarded the restaurant overnight and crime scene tape cordoned off the parking lot.
In the chaos of the shooting, patrons left behind drinks at the bar, including one that had barely been touched with a lime still perched on the glass early Monday morning.
Detectives interviewed witnesses overnight, including other Barberitos employees and customers who were not hurt in the robbery.
The killing of the restaurant worker is the city’s third homicide this year. A news conference on the three January homicides is scheduled for noon Tuesday at Warner Robins police headquarters.
Anyone with any information or witnessing the crime should contact Detective Justin Clark at (478) 302-5380 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 3:00 PM with the headline "The man fatally shot in the Barberitos robbery may not be the killer’s first victim."