Thursday, March 28, 2024

Kitchen Owner Pulls Gun on Black Food Truck Couple Accusing them of ‘Kitchen Contamination’ / WATCH


*Police in Mesa, Arizona. had to subdue and arrest the co-owner of Chef’s Shared Kitchen after he pulled a gun out on a Black couple during a meeting. Now the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. 

Here’s more from ABC15:

The entire incident was caught on camera at Chef’s Shared Kitchen in Mesa. Tom Toot, who is the life partner of the owner, was having an exit interview with Solomon Odubhao and Brittney Myers. The African American couple told ABC15 they were being forced from the prep kitchen after being given 30 days notice. They operate a food truck called WhachaCookin.

As the conversation became tense, Toot started to reach for his gun and Solomon grabbed it before he could remove it. Watch the video report above. 

READ MORE: Black Excellence Shinned at Critics Choice Awards / EURexclusiveWATCH

 “He told us we were contaminating their whole kitchen,” said Brittney.

“I was like, cool I’m not going to tolerate no disrespect towards me or my wife,” said Solomon.

“Then he just reached for his gun,” said Brittney. “I immediately braced myself like, ‘Oh my God we are going to get shot.'”

“I went with my instincts,” said Solomon.

“He tried to squeeze the trigger, through his shirt, at my chest,” said Solomon. “I didn’t come there to get killed.”

Solomon kept his hand on the gun while his wife called the police.

“I kept pleading on the 911 call, ‘My husband is not the suspect. He’s African-American. He’s fighting the guy with a gun. His hand is on the weapon, but please whatever you do, do not shoot him,'” recalled Brittney.

Once officers showed up, Solomon was pulled out of the way and Toot was tasered and arrested. He has been charged with aggravated assault and prohibited from returning to Chef’s Shared Kitchen. 

Toot’s lawyer, Michelle Skura, said in a statement to ABC15:

“Mr. Toot enjoys the presumption of innocence under the 5th and 14th amendments of the US Constitution. As such the State has the burden of proof and not Mr. Toot to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crime he is being accused of. Mr. Toot deserves the opportunity to defend himself and to be judged by a court of law and not the court of public opinion.

Candice is a businesswoman and Tom is a disabled veteran, both of them have worked and served alongside people from all walks of life and have never discriminated against anyone regardless of race, sexual orientation or religious preference. Prior to this incident they had never been accused of being racist and are sickened by the allegation.”

Mesa Police said: “The investigators are looking into the suspect’s motivation for these crimes. If there is evidence to show this incident is a hate or bias crime based on the race or ethnicity of the victims, this incident will be labeled as such and that information will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.”

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