Things turned ugly for a patron at a Benton Township restaurant shortly after the lunch hour this afternoon, when the man was thrown out the front door and then shot in the arm by an employee of the diner.
Benton Charter Township Police Detective Lt. Michael DenDooven tells us that at around 1:30 this afternoon his department was dispatched to Spectrum Health Lakeland regarding a man who had been shot. When they arrived, they were told by the 22-year old Benton Harbor man who was the victim that after an argument erupted at Fried Rice & Thangs, a diner located at 107 S. Fair Avenue in the Township, an employee of the restaurant pushed him out of the front door and then was shot in the upper right arm as the employee brandished a handgun, firing once.
The man drove himself home and was subsequently taken to Spectrum Health Lakeland by a family member. He was treated for non life threatening injuries according to DenDooven.
By the time officers arrived at Fried Rice & Thangs, the business had been closed up for the day, and Detective DenDooven says they have been unable to locate the owner of the diner for questioning regarding the incident.
Benton Township Police have not been able to locate the shooter in the incident, and they are asking that anyone with information regarding the confrontation and subsequent shooting incident is asked to contact the Benton Township Police Department Detective Bureau at 269-925-1135 or call Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.
