WKRN
October 22, 2014
A Columbia Papa John’s employee was shot and killed during a robbery late Monday night.
It happened shortly before 10 p.m. at the restaurant at 1902 Shady Brook St.
Gordon Schaffer, 22, the employee working behind the counter at the time, was shot once in the chest but was conscious and able to tell responding officers that two black males robbed him.
Schaffer was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he died a short time later.
Gordon was only one in Papa John’s when robbery happened. Police said he was on phone with a co-worker who heard robbery through the phone and called police.
The offenders were caught on camera by the store’s surveillance system.
The gunman is described as a heavy set man, approximately 5′ 8” tall. He was wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, pants and shoes and light colored gloves.
The second suspect is thin and approximately 5′ 9” inches tall. He was wearing dark colored clothing and shoes with what appeared to be a black shirt over a blue hooded sweatshirt. He was wearing light colored gloves and carrying a bag.
Police said the suspects had Schaffer open the cash register and even though the victim complied and offered no resistance, they opened fire before fleeing.
Columbia police said there are similarities between Monday’s robbery and two other robberies at Dollar General stores earlier this month.
The Dollar General at 230 East James M. Campbell Boulevard was robbed on October 13 and the Dollar General at 704 Bear Creek Pike was robbed on October 17. No one was injured in either case.
In all the cases, including Papa John’s, witnesses have reported seeing a black early to mid 2000s four-door car, possibly a Nissan Altima or Chevrolet Impala in the area just before or after the robberies.
A red SUV type vehicle was also seen near Papa John’s shortly before the robbery and murder.
Anyone with information regarding the suspects or any of the robberies should call Columbia police at 931-380-2721, the SAFE tips line at 931-380-2930 or Crime Stoppers at 931-381-4900.