HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — De’Jon Timmons is a Rally’s customer and came to the door, but found out the restaurant was closed.

10 On Your Side told him why.

A 17-year-old fast food employee was shot and killed in Hampton Wednesday and now police are searching for the suspect.

“Oh my gosh, it makes me think about my parents because I got my first job at 15, and they were so worried about that, so now I see why,” Timmons said. “Parents worry about their children getting jobs, and now that’s even worse. I’m sorry that happened, it’s probably over the silliest thing, and that is ridiculous.” 

It was around 5:30 p.m., Hampton Police responded for calls of a shooting at the Rally’s located in the 1000 block of W. Mercury Boulevard according to the Hampton Police Division.

First responders took the boy who was shot to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

When it comes to what happened, it was determined that the employee was involved in a physical altercation with a male suspect, police said. The suspect then pulled a gun and shot the teen before fleeing the scene.

A woman who was across the parking lot, who would only identify herself as “Jones” said she was close to the scene when it happened.

“It was so many sounds, and one — it was like a loud sound and then a screaming,” Jones said. “And then it was like a car that just went ‘screeech,’ like drove away. So I looked up around to see what was going on. And then before I could, before I knew it, at the same time, the police was coming too.”

The Mercury Boulevard Rally’s remained closed Friday, but Richon Theriault thought they were open because the bot was taking his order, asking questions on what he wanted. Rally’s uses a bot to take orders with repetitive, pre-defined tasks. Theriault feels for the family.

“That is really sad,” Theriault said. “They took a young man away from his family enjoying Thanksgiving and no Black Friday and things of that nature, so that is really unfortunate.” 

Shame Sanders worked at the Rally’s until about three months ago. She was shocked at what happened.

“He was killed? Wow, this is crazy,” Sanders said.

Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck showed up to the Rally’s to offer his condolences and support.

“My heart breaks for them,” Tuck said. “There are no words. This is a tragedy, but I think I can help, and the city will support and embrace them going forward.”

No suspect information has been released, but the restaurant is equipped with surveillance cameras.

A lone bouquet of flowers lay below the drive-thru kiosk on Thanksgiving Day when Rally’s was already scheduled to be closed.

“It’s just really sad,” Jones said. “Like I’m very disturbed about what happened.”

A vigil will be held Friday evening.

10 On Your Side’s Lauryn Moss will have more from the vigil at 10 and 11.