Colorado Shooting: Man Shoots Waffle House Worker After Being Asked To Wear Mask

A Colorado man was arrested this week after allegedly opening fire at a Waffle House location. According to reports, Kelvin Watson, 27, wounded a cook Friday night after being told he could not order takeout without wearing a face mask earlier in the day.

The Aurora Police Department arrested Watson on Monday after initially responding to the shooting on Friday. On the scene, they found the wounded employee and had him transported to a nearby hospital. He was released by Friday afternoon.

Watson initially attempted to order on Thursday before being turned away by a server. Later, he returned with a mask but was not actually wearing it. After being turned away again, this time by the cook, Watson reportedly placed a gun on the restaurant counter and threatened to “blow [the cook's] brains out.”

Watson returned once again, just after midnight on Friday, and was refused service by the cook. Watson proceeded to slap the employee, who tried to flee towards the back of the restaurant. After making it outside, the suspect reportedly shot the cook in the “chest or abdomen,” reported KDVR, a Fox affiliate in Denver.

“We are relieved to hear that Aurora police have made an arrest for this terrible crime, and greatly appreciate the diligence of local law enforcement,” Njeri Boss, public relations director for Waffle House, said in a statement. “This case involves a senseless act of violence that should not be tolerated in any community.”