Holly MatkinFort Walton Beach, FL – A heroic Chick-fil-A worker tackled a would-be carjacker to the ground outside the restaurant on Wednesday after the suspect forcibly stole keys from a woman who was carrying a baby (video below).
The incident occurred at the Chick-fil-A restaurant located 743 Beal Parkway on the afternoon of Sept. 14, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said in a press release.
The unidentified victim was getting an infant out of her vehicle outside the business when a man approached her and demanded she hand over her car keys, the OCSO said.
The suspect, later identified as 43-year-old William Branch, was “wielding a stick” during the confrontation, according to the sheriff’s office.
Branch ultimately yanked the car keys from the woman’s waistband and got into her car, the OCSO said.
The woman managed to get the baby out of the vehicle as she screamed for help, drawing the attention of restaurant employee Mykel Gordon, WCVB reported.
The OCSO said Branch punched Gordon in the face when he intervened in the heist.
Cell phone footage showed the Good Samaritan brawling with the suspect on the pavement just before additional people rushed in to help subdue Branch.
OCSO deputies responded to the scene and arrested Branch on charges of battery and carjacking with a weapon.
William Branch of DeFuniak Springs is charged with #carjacking with a weapon & battery after he grabbed car keys from a woman with a baby outside Chick-fil-A on Beal Pkway and got into her car. An employee intervened after hearing the woman screaming. Branch was wielding a stick. pic.twitter.com/J9sGh58Z2p
— OkaloosaSheriff (@OCSOALERTS) September 14, 2022
Investigators said Branch had also been involved in another incident shortly before he stole the woman’s keys.
Gordon did not suffer any severe injuries during the physical altercation with the suspect, the OCSO said.
“A major shout-out to this young man for his courage!” the sheriff’s office said in a tweet.
"This is the HERO!"
The @ChickfilA location identified the employee as Mykel Gordon. "At Chick-fil-A our mission is to 'Serve' and today Mykel took it further……to 'Save.'" @weartv pic.twitter.com/ox9UbjDatB
— Olivia Iverson (@OliviaIversonTV) September 14, 2022
The operator of the Chick-fil-A branch, Matthew Sexton, said he is thankful that his workers and customers are all safe, WCVB reported.
“I’m grateful for my amazing Team Member, Mykel Gordon, who so selflessly jumped in to intervene and help our Guests,” Sexton added. “I couldn’t be prouder of his incredible act of care.”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below:
In reference to the FWB Chick-fil-A employee who ran to help a woman with a baby who was being carjacked, we want to say a sincere thank you to Ms. Kelner for providing video of a portion of the encounter. (see prior post). A major shout-out to this young man for his courage! pic.twitter.com/2Lcwe46azv
— OkaloosaSheriff (@OCSOALERTS) September 14, 2022
