CCTV footage shows 'life or death' robbery two employees were fired for stopping
Shocking video footage shows the moment two Starbucks employees confronted two masked men attempting an armed robbery.
The suspects demanded money from the cash register with what turned out to be a fake gun in a store near St. Louis University in December 2023.
As the robbery unfolded, employees and a customer complied with the robbers' orders by getting on the ground.
One suspect forced his way behind the counter and pushed a female employee aside while trying to access the register.
Advert
Michael Harris, a Starbucks employee working the drive-thru, attempted to open the till but lacked the necessary managerial permissions.
During the encounter, Harris was struck in the back of the head with the gun, causing his vision to temporarily go black.
He later described the incident as a 'life or death' situation, believing he might be shot.
The turning point came when another employee, Devin Jones-Ransom, noticed one of the robbers lower his weapon. Jones-Ransom tackled the suspect into the drive-thru window, causing the gun to break.
In the struggle, the employees realised the weapon was fake. Once they understood the threat was not a real firearm, Harris joined the fight.
One robber, Joshua Noe, was subdued and held until police arrived, while the second suspect, Marquis Porter-Doyle, initially escaped but was later arrested.
Despite being praised by many for their bravery, Harris and Jones-Ransom were fired by Starbucks several weeks after the incident.
The company stated that the employees violated its safety policy, which instructs workers to comply with robbers’ demands and avoid actions that could increase risk to employees or customers.
Starbucks said the two workers did not adhere to the company policy of 'complying with demands and avoiding actions that could increase risk'.
Jaci Anderson, a Starbucks spokesperson, told LADbible: "In high-stress situations like this, our priority is ensuring the safety of everyone in our stores. We were deeply disturbed by this frightening incident and are grateful that our partners and customers were not more seriously injured at the time.
"Our training and protocols are designed to support partner safety by emphasizing de-escalation, helping to reduce the risk of an already volatile situation intensifying. All partners are trained at hire and annually on these practices, including robbery scenarios that reinforce complying with demands and avoiding actions that could increase risk.
"While we recognize how intense and unpredictable these moments can be, adherence to these protocols is essential to help protect both partners and customers."
Harris’ lawyer blasted the policy, adding: “All it’s going to do is dissuade people, potentially, from protecting their own lives when they may need it the most, and that is not the world we can live in.”
LADbible Group has contacted Starbucks for additional comment.
Anish Vij