Police in Maryland and West Virginia are looking into whether Burger Kings across the region are being targeted by the same violent suspects. Burger King manager Jacinta Ayala was shot and killed the morning of March 18 in Frederick, Md.
Ayala had just opened the store at 1302 E. Patrick St. and was shot in a robbery attempt.
Sunday night, armed robbers hit a Burger King in Hagerstown, Md.
A third Burger King was hit by armed robbers in Martinsburg, W. Va., in January.
Now, police in both states are investigating possible links.
"There are some similarities. No. 1: they are all Burger Kings. There could be a possibility that somebody has some inside information on Burger King and some of their practices," Frederick police Lt. Shawn Martyak said.
In two of the instances, police said, the suspects hit before the stores opened for the day. In Hagerstown, it happened after the restaurant closed. Police said in each incident managers were targeted and forced to take money out of a secured vault. All of the Burger Kings targeted were also near a major highway or escape route.
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"The close proximity to interstate 70 would lead someone to get off the interstate quickly, get back on the interstate. Hagerstown is similar with interstate 81," said Martyak.
In West Virginia and Hagerstown, the robberies may have been committed by two men wearing all black clothing, ski masks and carrying guns, police said. The duo could be traveling up the east coast.
Despite the rash of violence, authorties say, the public should not feel unsafe going into a Burger King.
