A Shake Shack employee in Phoenix, Arizona, faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping after allegedly robbing his own restaurant at gunpoint and locking two co-workers in a walk-in cooler. The suspect, identified as Keondre Simmons, 33, was arrested two days after the incident when he returned to the restaurant wearing his work uniform.
According to court documents, Simmons allegedly called out of work for his shift around midnight on August 3 before returning later that morning to commit the robbery. Investigators stated that Simmons pointed a firearm at an employee who opened a rear delivery door, believing a scheduled delivery had arrived. The suspect then forced the employee into the walk-in cooler and locked the door.
Following this, Simmons allegedly proceeded to the restaurant's office, where he ordered the on-duty manager to open the safe. Approximately $2,800 in cash was taken from the safe and placed into a gun case. Both the manager and the first employee were then forced into the walk-in cooler and locked inside. After the victims managed to escape, the suspect reportedly re-entered the office, took their cellphones and the office landline, destroyed them by throwing them into water, and fled through the rear delivery door.
Simmons was identified as the suspect by investigators. He later told authorities that he had discarded the clothing worn during the robbery and that a firearm was inside his residence. Simmons is scheduled to appear in court on August 25.