On April 16, 1994, three employees were shot and killed and a fourth employee was seriously injured at a Popeyes restaurant in Gadsden, Alabama. The perpetrators, Robert Bryant Melson (June 5, 1971 – June 8, 2017)[1] and Cuhuatemoc Hinricky Peraita (born May 19, 1976),[1] robbed the restaurant of over $2,100, led the four employees into a freezer, and then shot all four of them.[2]
Melson was sentenced to death for the crime and Peraita received a life sentence; however, he was later sentenced to death for killing another inmate in prison. Melson was executed in 2017 and Peraita remains on death row.[3][4]
On the night of April 15, 1994, Melson and Peraita entered a Popeyes restaurant in east Gadsden through the back door of the building after employee Darrell K. Collier unlocked it to allow fellow employees Nathaniel Baker and Bryant Archer to take out the trash. Upon entry, Melson and Peraita ordered Archer, Baker, Collier, and another employee, Tamika Collins, into the restaurant's office and demanded that they empty the safe. They complied, after which Melson ordered the group to get inside the restaurant's freezer. Shortly after locking them in the freezer, Melson unlocked the door and opened fire. Baker, Collier, and Collins all died of their wounds before paramedics arrived. Archer was shot four times, but he survived and was able to crawl to the restaurant's office to call 911. The killings happened shortly after midnight in the early hours of April 16.[5][6]
Legal proceedingsedit
Melson was convicted of his role in the crime, was sentenced to death on May 17, 1996, and placed on death row under Alabama Department of Corrections ID 0000Z601.[1] Peraita was sentenced to life without parole. He killed a fellow inmate on December 11, 1999, and was given a death sentence in October 2001. Melson had two execution dates set in 2010, both of which were stayed. On April 5, 2017, Melson had an execution date set for June 8, 2017.[7] He received a temporary stay from an appellate court on June 2, but the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the stay on June 6 without comment. At 5:45 p.m. on the night of the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a temporary stay so Justice Clarence Thomas could review Melson's appeals. The stay was later lifted and the execution began at 9:55 p.m. Melson was pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m.[8][9]
^ abc. doc.state.al.us. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
^Magin, Janis L. (April 17, 1994). "Three fast food employees found slain". The Selma Times-Journal. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Alabama executes man convicted of murder in 1994 Popeyes robbery". The Guardian. June 9, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
^Hrynkiw, Ivana (June 7, 2017). "Robert Melson set to die Thursday for killing three, injuring another in 1994 Popeye's shooting". al.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
^"Melson v. State". FindLaw. March 26, 1999. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
^Magin, Janis L. (April 18, 1994). "Survivor thought he had saved others". The Montgomery Advertiser. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved November 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^. deathpenaltyinfo.org. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
^"Robert Melson executed in Alabama for '94 triple murder during robbery". Cbsnews.com. June 9, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
^Hrynkiw, Ivanaki (June 8, 2017). "Robert Bryant Melson executed for 1994 triple slaying". The Birmingham News. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
December 15, 2023
1994, popeyes, shooting, april, 1994, three, employees, were, shot, killed, fourth, employee, seriously, injured, popeyes, restaurant, gadsden, alabama, perpetrators, robert, bryant, melson, june, 1971, june, 2017, cuhuatemoc, hinricky, peraita, born, 1976, ro. On April 16 1994 three employees were shot and killed and a fourth employee was seriously injured at a Popeyes restaurant in Gadsden Alabama The perpetrators Robert Bryant Melson June 5 1971 June 8 2017 1 and Cuhuatemoc Hinricky Peraita born May 19 1976 1 robbed the restaurant of over 2 100 led the four employees into a freezer and then shot all four of them 2 1994 Popeyes shootingPart of mass shootings in the United StatesLocation of the Popeyes restaurantLocationGadsden Alabama U S Coordinates34 00 36 N 85 59 16 W 34 009898 N 85 987736 W 34 009898 85 987736DateApril 16 1994 c 12 00 a m CT Attack typeMass shooting armed robberyDeaths3Injured1PerpetratorsRobert Bryant MelsonCuhuatemoc Hinricky PeraitaMelson was sentenced to death for the crime and Peraita received a life sentence however he was later sentenced to death for killing another inmate in prison Melson was executed in 2017 and Peraita remains on death row 3 4 Contents 1 Shooting 2 Legal proceedings 3 See also 4 ReferencesShooting editOn the night of April 15 1994 Melson and Peraita entered a Popeyes restaurant in east Gadsden through the back door of the building after employee Darrell K Collier unlocked it to allow fellow employees Nathaniel Baker and Bryant Archer to take out the trash Upon entry Melson and Peraita ordered Archer Baker Collier and another employee Tamika Collins into the restaurant s office and demanded that they empty the safe They complied after which Melson ordered the group to get inside the restaurant s freezer Shortly after locking them in the freezer Melson unlocked the door and opened fire Baker Collier and Collins all died of their wounds before paramedics arrived Archer was shot four times but he survived and was able to crawl to the restaurant s office to call 911 The killings happened shortly after midnight in the early hours of April 16 5 6 Legal proceedings editMelson was convicted of his role in the crime was sentenced to death on May 17 1996 and placed on death row under Alabama Department of Corrections ID 0000Z601 1 Peraita was sentenced to life without parole He killed a fellow inmate on December 11 1999 and was given a death sentence in October 2001 Melson had two execution dates set in 2010 both of which were stayed On April 5 2017 Melson had an execution date set for June 8 2017 7 He received a temporary stay from an appellate court on June 2 but the U S Supreme Court vacated the stay on June 6 without comment At 5 45 p m on the night of the execution the U S Supreme Court granted a temporary stay so Justice Clarence Thomas could review Melson s appeals The stay was later lifted and the execution began at 9 55 p m Melson was pronounced dead at 10 27 p m 8 9 See also editList of death row inmates in the United States List of people executed in Alabama List of people executed in the United States in 2017 List of shootings in AlabamaReferences edit a b c Alabama Department of Corrections doc state al us Archived from the original on October 24 2012 Magin Janis L April 17 1994 Three fast food employees found slain The Selma Times Journal p 6 Retrieved November 20 2022 via Newspapers com Alabama executes man convicted of murder in 1994 Popeyes robbery The Guardian June 9 2017 Retrieved April 2 2023 Hrynkiw Ivana June 7 2017 Robert Melson set to die Thursday for killing three injuring another in 1994 Popeye s shooting al com Retrieved April 2 2023 Melson v State FindLaw March 26 1999 Retrieved November 20 2022 Magin Janis L April 18 1994 Survivor thought he had saved others The Montgomery Advertiser pp 1 4 Retrieved November 20 2022 via Newspapers com Upcoming Executions Death Penalty Information Center deathpenaltyinfo org Archived from the original on April 10 2017 Retrieved July 30 2017 Robert Melson executed in Alabama for 94 triple murder during robbery Cbsnews com June 9 2017 Retrieved July 30 2017 Hrynkiw Ivanaki June 8 2017 Robert Bryant Melson executed for 1994 triple slaying The Birmingham News Retrieved August 16 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1994 Popeyes shooting amp oldid 1185858410, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
