Walked Into A Robbery In Progress at Summerport Publix

[Feralpeg]

OP here! So, nothing on the news about this today. I still needed the cat food, so I went back to the Publix. I talked to a manager. As some of you may know, Florida is a right to carry state. Apparently, a man came into the store to purchase something and had a gun. It was in plain sight. One of the Publix employees thought that he was reaching for it and panicked. Thus, the mass exodus from the store and the call to the police.

I am very relieved to know that it was not a real robbery. I feel sorry for the poor employee who was frightened enough to think it was a robbery. I also think the guy carrying the gun might have second thoughts about carrying after he was surrounded by dozens of Orange County Sheriff.

If people had reacted differently, who knows what could have happened. As it is, I was a kind of creepy few minutes in my life, but all's well that ends well.

 

[Traveliz]

OP here! So, nothing on the news about this today. I still needed the cat food, so I went back to the Publix. I talked to a manager. As some of you may know, Florida is a right to carry state. Apparently, a man came into the store to purchase something and had a gun. It was in plain sight. One of the Publix employees thought that he was reaching for it and panicked. Thus, the mass exodus from the store and the call to the police.

I am very relieved to know that it was not a real robbery. I feel sorry for the poor employee who was frightened enough to think it was a robbery. I also think the guy carrying the gun might have second thoughts about carrying after he was surrounded by dozens of Orange County Sheriff.

If people had reacted differently, who knows what could have happened. As it is, I was a kind of creepy few minutes in my life, but all's well that ends well.

Ahh I was hoping it was something like this - and I was going to tell you to go back and ask so glad you did! Thanks for the update.

Liz

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I was figuring that it would have made prominent news if someone had been hurt, so I was hoping that no news was good news.

I am glad that you found out the story so it did not remain a mystery. I am glad it turned out to be a much more minor situation than originally thought! Still a scary memory, though.

 

[wdwfam]

Wow, I am glad that it wasn't a robbery afterall. DD used to live right off 535and would shop up at that Publix late at night by herself a lot. I've been there several times myself and always thought it's such a nice, quiet non-touristy area. In fact, I wish she would move back to that area, although she loves living in Celebration now.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I was just in that Publix, literally 20 minutes ago! I was reading this thread and freaking out - glad to read it was just a misunderstanding though. That's my local store and I love it, I would have been worried about a robbery so thanks for updating.

 

[kimmar067]

OP here! So, nothing on the news about this today. I still needed the cat food, so I went back to the Publix. I talked to a manager. As some of you may know, Florida is a right to carry state. Apparently, a man came into the store to purchase something and had a gun. It was in plain sight. One of the Publix employees thought that he was reaching for it and panicked. Thus, the mass exodus from the store and the call to the police.

I am very relieved to know that it was not a real robbery. I feel sorry for the poor employee who was frightened enough to think it was a robbery. I also think the guy carrying the gun might have second thoughts about carrying after he was surrounded by dozens of Orange County Sheriff.

If people had reacted differently, who knows what could have happened. As it is, I was a kind of creepy few minutes in my life, but all's well that ends well.

...thanks for the 'explanation' and I'm so glad that you are okay!

 

[MeMom]

So glad to hear it was not the real thing. I was the victim of a robbery many years ago (in my young 20's) when I was the manager of a McDonald's. Two gunmen - both came after me, dressed differently, as someone said. 30 years later, I can point to the exact two places on my head where they had those guns - one on the left back behind the ear and one on the right temple. Luckily, they got a small amount of money and ran out the back door. One little move on the part of either of them, and my life could have been changed or ended. It's not an experience one forgets. I'm sure even just what happened today will have those employees a bit spooked for a while.