Customer shoots, kills robbery suspect in restaurant

According to an incident report, two armed men entered the restaurant and tried to rob it. A customer in the Waffle House, who is a concealed weapon permit holder, was also armed with a handgun and attempted to hold the suspects at gunpoint until law enforcement could arrive, deputies said.

Deputies said one of the robbery suspects pointed his gun at the customer, and the customer then shot the man, who died on the scene.

"The gentlemen said it scared him. He thought he was gonna die, so he shot the armed robbery suspect," said Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright.

The suspect has been identified by the Spartanburg County coroner as 19-year-old Dante Lamont Williams. of Roebuck, SC.

According to officials, the other suspect is still on the loose. Officials said no one else was hurt.

The Spartanburg County Violent Crimes Unit is investigating.

Wright said he made the decision not to release the name of the customer who shot and killed the suspect. Wright said he wants to protect the customer and his family from possible retaliation by the second robber who has not been identified and is still at large.

Wright said the unknown robber is to be considered armed and dangerous since he was involved in an attempted armed robbery where a handgun was used. Wright said customers could only describe the second suspect as a black man wearing a mask.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

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