Phoenix Police Department has identified the teen suspect in the murder of a 16-year-old McDonald’s employee who was shot and killed in the restaurant's restroom on Wednesday, March 2.
Christopher Track, also 16, was last seen Wednesday morning, armed and leaving the Mcdonald's location at 51st Avenue and Baseline Road, shortly after allegedly shooting the teen employee, Prince Nedd.
Police say Nedd and Track knew each other and were engaged in an argument in the restroom when shots were fired.
Employees said they heard multiple gunshots, as several customers, including kids, frantically ran for cover inside the restaurant.
"It’s awful. You’re not even safe inside a McDonald’s anymore. You can’t go anywhere." Anna Ochoa, a customer, told FOX 10.
"I was standing there waiting for my Door Dash order and ten feet to my right, three rounds went off and everyone screamed." She adds, "We didn’t know if he was coming back for everyone else in the store, or it wasn’t until I saw him run around the building, then I knew he was gone, so then I ran over, and we tried to keep him alive until the firefighters and ambulance came."
Nedd died of his wounds at the scene, the Phoenix Police Department confirmed. Authorities haven’t revealed what led up to the shooting. A further probe is underway.
"It’s tragic," said Rachel McCleave, another customer "It’s heartbreaking. It’s 16-years-old, I mean life is just starting. It’s awful."
Nedd's family told 12 News he started working part-time at the restaurant two months ago.
"I just never thought my brother would go before I did. And it’s just the hardest thing I’ve ever been through," Aniyah Lindsey, Nedd’s sister said.
"I was so proud my brother had his first job. And he was making more money than me for a moment," she said.
She explained how hard it would be for her to walk into her favorite restaurant again.
"Now that I know my brother died there, it’s so hard for me, especially having to drive past there every day," she said.
Detectives investigated surveillance footage of the restaurant and found Track fleeing the scene with a gun in his hand, shortly after the shots were fired.
The authorities say Track is also a McDonald's employee, but it's unclear if he worked at the same location as Nedd.
The investigators are urging anyone with information about the suspect or the shooting to contact the authorities. A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
Police described Track as a 5 feet, 11 inches tall white male with black hair.
Nedd was a junior at PXU Digital Academy. He was athletic and especially passionate about football, his GoFundMe page said.
"Now I have to look at a picture to see him, it’s absolutely just, it just makes me hurt," his brother, Jakeim Nedd, said.
He said it was the first time he’d seen his father cry.
"He didn’t get to experience things, and I really wanted to do things with him, now I can’t do those things. I have to look at a picture to talk to him," Jakeim said.
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