Tulsa Restaurant Worker Shot In The Face After Attempted Robbery

Lacie Lowry, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The search is on for a man who shot a restaurant employee on the job Wednesday night.

It happened at the Popeye's at North Peoria and Pine about 11 p.m. Wednesday. 

Tulsa Police said Lydia Gibson and a few other employees were cleaning up for the night when witnesses say a man with a bandana over his face came in the back door.

Gibson had a high-powered water hose in her hand and she sprayed the man when he scared her, demanding cash. Investigators say that's when he shot her in the forehead.

"It's kind of disheartening to see that just a little action, maybe even a reflex of being scared and shooting water at someone, causes that person to shoot," Sergeant Dave Walker, Tulsa Police, said.

Sergeant Dave Walker says his robbery division investigates between 80 and 100 robberies a month. Just like the botched robbery at Popeye's, investigators are seeing a violent trend even though the amount of robberies is not increasing.

"What we're seeing is instances of guns coming into play, so there are a lot more armed robberies where people are actually getting hurt," he said.

 The suspect ran off after the shooting and investigators say they don't have much to go on. They can't believe she was shot while simply doing her job.

"It's just a constant reminder of how close we are from every robbery of having something really tragic happen," Walker said.

Gibson was transported to the hospital. She is in critical condition.

Three other employees in the business at the time were not hurt.  They told officers the suspect was a black male, between 18 and 25 years of age, 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds. 

If you have any information about the shooting you are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.  You can remain anonymous.