Police have arrested a suspect hours after a Whole Foods employee was shot during an attempted robbery at the H Street location in D.C.
A man went into the store in the 600 block of H Street NE just before 11 a.m. Sunday and demanded cash from a cashier at the store, police said.
According to police, the suspect then took out a gun and got into a struggle with the cashier. He fired the gun during the struggle and struck the cashier before running off, police said.
Medics took the cashier to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police Chief Peter Newsham responded to the scene and said the cashier acted heroically.
The store was crowded when the gunman opened fire, witnesses said on social media. Photos show items left in a checkout aisle and a display knocked over.
Update to the H Street NE Whole Foods shooting: we need assistance identifying this man (black male, 5’6” tall w/ long dreads, wearing long black coat, grey hoodie & tan pants) & locating a red Honda Civic zipcar w/ DC tag FT 9420. Tips to 202.727.9099 or text 50411. pic.twitter.com/mbnk2jp6ZO
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) December 2, 2018
The suspect fled toward I Street NE in a red Honda Accord Zipcar with D.C. license plate FT9420, police said. Officers later found that car, but continued to search for the suspect.
Police arrested 28-year-old Michael Whatley Jr., of Southeast D.C., hours after the shooting. Whatley was charged with assault with intent to rob while armed.
