A quiet Monday morning at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Florissant, Missouri turned violent when an armed criminal stormed the restaurant and demanded cash from terrified employees.

What the thug did not expect was a 21-year-old cook who refused to be a victim.

Markell Hitchings was prepping food for the day when he spotted a man dressed in black walking into the restaurant.

Hitchings at first thought the man was just using the restroom, but something about the stranger’s behavior set off alarms in his mind.

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He told KSDK-TV, “I had it back in my mind that he was going to try to do something.”

His gut feeling turned out to be absolutely right.

The suspect soon barged behind the counter and demanded the manager hand over the cash.

Hitchings said the manager dropped to the floor in shock as the man brandished a gun. Hitchings told her to comply to avoid getting hurt.

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The thief grabbed the money and sprinted out the front door, but he did not get far.

As fate would have it, Hitchings had stepped out behind the restaurant near the drive through area.

The armed robber came around the back and locked eyes with the young cook.

He then demanded Hitchings’ cell phone.

That was one demand too many.

Hitchings flatly refused, and the two began to fight.

“He asked me for my cell phone, and I didn’t give him my phone, and we got to tussling around in back by the drive thru,” Hitchings said.

The attacker tried to maintain control as his gun flew from his hands during the scuffle.

The fight turned brutal and desperate as Hitchings called for help while adrenaline began to fade.

“I was screaming for help because I was losing adrenaline,” he said, but he did not back down.

The cook summoned more strength, wrestling the criminal to the ground.

“Once I had him in a chokehold, I’m on his back.

He grabbed rocks and tried to smash them over my head, but it didn’t work,” Hitchings recalled.

His determination stopped a violent robbery from turning into a tragedy.

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Employees in a nearby business called 911 as Hitchings held the suspect down until police arrived.

When officers reached the scene, they found a stolen firearm used in the robbery along with the stolen cash.

The suspect, identified as Tamon Sleet, learned the hard way that not all working Americans are helpless in the face of criminal threats.

Authorities later revealed that Sleet was already suspected of attacking a ride share driver in north St. Louis County just days earlier, a disturbing trend of escalating violence before his KFC rampage.

Thankfully, thanks to Hitchings’ courage, he was stopped before he could hurt anyone else.

For Hitchings, the experience was a blur of danger and adrenaline, but his perspective afterward reflected faith and gratitude.

“It all just happened so fast. I know it was dangerous. I wouldn’t advise anyone to do that. I was never afraid at all. Honestly, I thank God that it all played out the way it did,” he said.

Police charged Sleet with multiple offenses including assault, armed criminal action, and vehicle hijacking related to the ride share attack.

He is currently being held on a $250,000 cash only bond.

The community, and probably every KFC customer in town, can breathe easier knowing this repeat offender is off the streets.

The story highlights both the bravery of one average worker and the disturbing reality of rising violent crime plaguing everyday Americans.

Too often, hardworking citizens are left to deal with the chaos created by criminals who have no fear of consequences.

Hitchings’ act of courage serves as a reminder that the human spirit, guided by faith and a sense of right and wrong, still stands strong in the face of danger.

It is also a story about what happens when everyday Americans take pride in defending themselves and their communities.

While police were on their way, it was a cook with a strong will who ensured the safety of others that morning.

That sort of grit does not come from politics or policy speeches.

It comes from the determination of people who refuse to live in fear while criminals roam freely.

Across the nation, stories of violent robberies at restaurants, convenience stores, and rideshare vehicles are becoming all too common.

But in this case, a young Missourian showed that courage and quick thinking still triumph over evil intent.

Hitchings’ actions will not only be remembered by his coworkers but serve as a rallying reminder that good Americans will not back down when their lives and communities are threatened.

As Florissant residents move on from the chaotic event, Hitchings remains humble but thankful.

He may have been preparing fried chicken that morning, but by noon, he had taken down an armed threat and protected innocent lives.

That is real heroism, and it happened not in a movie or a politician’s speech, but in a fast food kitchen in Missouri.

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