Georgia community mourns longtime grocery store cashier killed over COVID mask policy
A longtime cashier for a Georgia grocery store, who was killed earlier this week by a disgruntled customer who would not put on a face mask, is being remembered as a dedicated employee and an all-around “amazing person.”
Laquitta Willis was working the checkout aisle at a Big Bear Supermarket in DeKalb County on Monday afternoon when she got into an argument with a customer who was not wearing a face mask. According to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the suspect, identified as Victor Lee Tucker Jr., walked out of the store without completing his purchase, only to return a short time later with a gun.
He fatally struck Willis, an employee at the store for nearly 10 years, before exchanging gunfire with an off-duty deputy, who attempted to intervene. Both were wounded and Tucker was arrested as he attempted to crawl from the store.
Willis’ sister, Alexis Breland, and the rest of the family are struggling to cope with the loss and still working to process the events leading up to her death. She told CBS 4 they can’t believe she died over something as minor as a face covering.
“Just loving, funny, she was quiet at times but once you got to know her, just an amazing person,” she said. “A dependable person, you always have in your corner.”
Breland added that Willis also acted like a second mother to her and helped her pay for college in addition to consistently supporting her.
“A life was lost, a beautiful soul was lost over something that not too long ago was mandatory,” she said in reference to the coronavirus policy.
“This person meant so much to so many people and this was a senseless death.” Breland continued, “So whatever is deemed justice for his actions — I think everything should be thrown at him.”
As of Thursday, the suspected gunman was still receiving treatment for the wounds he sustained during the deadly confrontation. The deputy, who was working a security shift at the store, also remained in the hospital.
