The Subway worker who allegedly got suspended for stopping an armed robber said she's afraid to go home as the suspect knows her personal information - including where she lives.
Araceli Sotelo went viral after footage showed her battling off the attacker at the US Subway store where she worked, having posted the clip on her TikTok (@yadalove07), writing: "I was just suspended from my job after this incident."
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She was working alone at a franchised Subway restaurant in Rockford, Illinois, when a masked man looked to come in to demand money.
In the video, Sotelo can be seen wrestling the man, who then drops her bag and his gun onto the floor - giving her the opportunity to get hold of the weapon.
Sotelo then points the gun at him and demands her purse back, shortly after hitting his head with the gun.
Speaking to TMZ, Sotelo said she's 'going through a lot' after what happened.
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"I'm really scared about all this because he did steal my ID, he does know where I live now," she said.
"So it's like, what could happen to me? And my own job isn't even here to support me, so it's really messing with my head, you know?"
She continued: "Coming home, it scares me. I feel like no one's really helping me. What could happen to me if this guy's just waiting for me? He hasn't been caught yet - what if he's looking for me? He knows where I live, he has all my belongings, so I personally am really scared.
"I try to stay away from home, I don't like to come here too much because I'm scared - what if he is outside?"
Sotelo explained she had been alone in the storeroom the day the attacker came into the Subway branch where she worked and had screamed out for help but no one heard her.
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"I was more protecting myself," she said of her actions.
Sotelo said she was 'still suspended' from her role and had reached out to her manager and the owner of the company, but she claimed neither had contacted her.
A spokesperson for Subway told LADbible: "We are deeply concerned about the recent incident at a franchised location in Rockford, Illinois. The restaurant owner and management are fully cooperating with the police investigation, and we request patience until that process is complete."
The spokesperson did not address Sotelo's suspension.
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LADbible has contacted Subway for comment.
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@yadalove07Topics: News, US News, Subway, TikTok