ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Subway Worker Says She Was Suspended After Bravely Fighting Back Against Armed Robber

Subway Worker Says She Was Suspended After Bravely Fighting Back Against Armed Robber

The TikTok footage shows the Subway worker defending herself against a masked man with a gun

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

A Subway worker who was filmed fighting back against an armed robber claims that she was suspended just days after due to the video being shared online. Watch video of the incident below:

The member of staff, Araceli Sotelo, was working alone at a Subway in Rockford, Illinois where a masked man looked to come in store to demand money.

According to Daily Mail, she said: "He kind of just showed me his gun, and I was like freaking out like, 'woah you can't do that please leave'.

"[He said] 'give me all the money' and I said 'I do not have any money, like, I do not have any money'. That is all I had and he was just like, 'give me everything before I hurt you."

As shown in the footage, Sotelo is shouting 'stop' and 'get out' in attempts to make the masked man leave the store.

TikTok/@yadalove07
TikTok/@yadalove07

However, after he refused to leave, that's when Sotelo claims that she had to fight back.

"He was smaller than me, so I have that advantage. I'm bigger than him, so I could at least put my weight on him, push him, or something." she said.

Sotelo then wrestles the man and he drops her purse and his gun onto the floor, where the worker manages to get hold of the weapon.

She then points the gun at him and demands her purse back, shortly after hitting his head with the gun.

Despite her brave efforts, she says that she lost her job shortly after the incident because the video was shared online.

The Subway worker wrote on her TikTok (@yadalove07): "I was just suspended from my job after this incident."

TikTok/@yadalove07

Sotelo said: "[I was told that] 'if every one of these videos are not taken offline you will be suspended,' and then I texted them and I'm like 'how long am I suspended for?' They said till everything is removed online. I have no ability to do that."

"They did not want anyone to know, they wanted to be private that it happened to me and that I fought back, but I think they did that because they do not want corporate to know."

The viral footage was posted on TikTok three days ago (9 Sep) has racked up 7.7 million views.

One user commented: "She should have not been by herself! This could have ended badly! Management should have came in to help if no other employee could or close!"

A second user commended her bravery and wrote: "Girl I admire you, I'm glad you're safe though. That took guts fr."

Whilst a third added: "I love the way she hit him with his own gun."

LADbible has contacted Subway for comment.

Featured Image Credit: WQRF-TV

Topics: Subway, TikTok, US