Wendy’s Employee Shoots Teen Co-Worker Showing Her A Gun: Cops

ALSIP, IL — A 25-year-old man is in custody after police said he accidentally shot a teenage co-worker in the leg at Wendy’s. Alsip police have named Richard Willis, of Hammond, IN, as a suspect in Tuesday’s shooting of a 17-year-old girl. Charges are pending.

At 10:10 p.m., Alsip police went to Wendy’s at 11110 S. Cicero Ave. for a report of a shooting. When police arrived, they found the 17-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the leg. The teen employee was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition.

Police said Willis was showing his young co-worker a 9mm handgun. He allegedly removed the magazine and handed what he believed to be an unloaded gun to the girl to hold. When Willis took the gun back from the girl, police said he squeezed the trigger causing the round that was still chambered in the barrel of the firearm to discharge, hitting the girl in the leg.

After the gun fired, police said Willis hid the gun in the restaurant. Officers were able to find the gun after reviewing Wendy’s security video.

Charges against Willis are being sought pending approval of felony charges by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.