Crime & Safety
Armed Man Threatened To Kill Co-Worker At Montclair Fast Food Restaurant: Police
Two employees got into an argument. One came back an hour after his shift ended – and brought a rifle with him, police said.
MONTCLAIR, NJ — Police are searching for a New Jersey man who allegedly brought a gun to a fast food restaurant in Montclair after getting into an argument with a fellow employee, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to the Montclair Police Department, the incident took place Friday at Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen on Lackawanna Plaza.
Several officers responded to the fast food restaurant around 6:50 p.m. after getting a report about a man who entered the business with a long gun. Police surrounded the building and evacuated the people inside. During a search of the building, an officer found a rifle wrapped in a grey sweatshirt in a first-floor men’s restroom.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Outside, one of the officers spotted a grey 2024 Honda with a male driver speeding away from the “dome side” of the Lackawanna Plaza parking lot. When the officer tried to stop the car, the driver hit the gas pedal and escaped, evading police from Glen Ridge and Orange along the way, authorities said.
Here’s what a preliminary investigation found, police said:
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Both the victim and the suspect were identified as being employees of Popeyes. The victim reported that she was having an argument with the suspect throughout the day. The suspect reportedly left Popeyes at the end of his shift, only to return approximately one hour later. The victim reported that when the suspect returned, he was carrying a ‘long gun’ wrapped in a grey sweatshirt while threatening her life with the rifle. She was able to retreat to safety and call 911, prompting an immediate response by the Montclair Police Department.”
On Wednesday, police identified the suspect as Michael Barker, a 28-year-old Newark resident.
Barker has been charged with weapons offenses, terroristic threats and resisting arrest/eluding. He remains at-large, police said.
Authorities said anyone with information can contact Det. Sgt. Dan Heiser at (973) 509-4714, or Det. Joseph Juliano at (973) 509-4724.
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
