Mom says it wasn’t fair that her robber son was shot by his intended ‘victim’

Michael Grace Jr. was died from a gunshot wound he suffered while trying to rob a Pizza Hut. Grace was shot and killed by an armed restaurant employee, and his mother is upset. Temia Hariston, Grace’s mother, believe it wasn’t fair for the robbery victims to shoot her son, the robber.

“If there was to be a death, it was not the place of the employee at Pizza Hut. That is the place of law enforcement,” Hariston told CBS News. “It was an act of desperation, but I do not believe that Michael would have hurt anyone,” she continued. “Why in the hell did this guy have a gun? This wasn’t a body shot. This was a head shot. My son was shot in the left side of his head just behind his ear. A headshot is personal.”

According to his parents, Grace was suffering financial difficulty and resorted to robbery to help provide for his own child. Grace was a former employee of the same Pizza Hut he was attempting to rob, according to Hariston.

Pizza Hut released the following statement,

“The local Pizza Hut franchisee is fully cooperating with the Charlotte Police Department as they continue their investigation, but want to stress that the security of its staff is of utmost concern. They are providing support to the team members involved to ensure their health and well-being following this incident. The employee involved in the shooting has been placed on a leave of absence following further review.”

  • Darrius

    thats the only sort of gun control you need…being able to hit a scumbag in the head.

  • Springer98

    They ought to give the employee a medal!

  • burns

    Are you fucking kidding, it’s lawsuit time for the stick up guys family. He had a gun moron, that’s personel enough to get shot for.

  • Chris Meyerson

    Guess if you raised your dumb ass son better he wouldn’t be dead, but he is rehabilitated now… and as for all your outrage for your son wow go fuck off maybe now his son wont have a bad role model to view but god help him if he is exposed to the Grandparents as well

  • rickconner

    I take it personally when some prick tries to rob me.

  • Thomas S

    Ignorant woman. There’s an old saying, live by the sword, die by the sword. And another slightly newer saying, play stupid games, Win stupid prizes. You’re piece of s*** son won the grand prize.

  • I love a story with a happy ending.

  • Jarhead6541

    What!? This thug wasn’t able to rob & kill at will? How sad for you, mom. I’d start a protest, then a riot, ’cause this just ain’t fair. Criminals being shot by their hard working victims? This has got to stop.

    Sorry, Ma, your gangster kid got exactly what he should have gotten…dead.

  • munumunera

    Yes the Man robbing the store was an act of desperation and the Man who shot him is a act of desperation.

  • Drftpk

    Tough shit bitch! Cry me a river and raise your kids right!

  • Perry Landis

    Morons shouldn’t reproduce

  • Spencer Gamble

    That’s why this country is in the position it’s in. Thugs are supposed to be protected. That mom needs to fill in for her son and go to prison for stupidity.

  • Floyd Brown

    Mom your son was a worthless oxygen robber, and he got what he deserved.. I’m so glad he is the one dead, and not the employee that works for a living and NOT robbing folks for a living…

  • Kara

    I want to know why that employee was placed on a leave of absence? He likely saved other people within your stores lives including your other employees! If your employees safety and wellness is truely your top priority then you should be allowing your workers to carry firearms for self protection!

  • avstryker

    Usually these “Parents” already have t-shirts for sale by now … better check their game or they will miss out on the profits.
    Black Lies Matter!!

  • MM

    So his mother’s opinion is that only law enforcement should be allowed to kill robbers, plus it was wrong to shoot her son in the head, and the employee had no right to be carrying a gun to protect himself or the facility? Sounds like she should have been given a parental test before having children because she definitely does not have a grasp of reality or the law.

    • mngriz

      And if the police had shot and killed her son, BLM would be out in force rioting and burning and calling for the officer to be arrested!!! So by her logic, all businesses should just open their tills to anyone needing money?? We should just calmly open our wallets and purses to anyone desperate enough to threaten us?? Then what? Stand idly by while our wives, girlfriends and children are attacked? Wow! This is one stupid woman!!

  • RH

    Had you been a BETTER PARENT, he wouldn’t have been in that store TRYING TO ROB it!

  • KJQ

    “A headshot is personal” This woman has been watching too many Sopranos reruns.

  • DrexelLake

    This mother obviously raised her son wrong. It’s her fault he’s dead. Anybody that thinks criminals should be allowed to rob, maim, or kill others should not have children. Period.

  • Terry B

    What kind of mentality is that? Trying to justify the reason their son robbed people with a gun and they just should have given him the money rather then shoot him??

  • Joe Carolan

    He got what he deserved, no if’s, ands or buts bout it.

  • Malcolm Andrews

    She should go live in jolly old England where she would get a very sympathetic hearing. Over there the good guys do get prosecuted for protecting themselves.

  • Malcolm Andrews

    After watching the video of the parents, I see that they want to rob a lowly Pizza Hut employee of his job– the family sounds like a nest of bandits. The mother wants to know the Pizza Hut policy concerning employees carrying guns– the real question is, did her son know the law about brandishing a gun during the commission of a felony.

  • Mike Trimmer

    Maybe he should of called and said he was going to rob them in 15minutes ,but promise not to shoot anyone.

  • oxsnake1950

    Here we go again!!!
    Blame the victim! “What’s the policy of gun carrying employee?:” It is the place of law enforcement to do the shooting”.
    It was wrong for her son to try to rob the Pizza hut. It was wrong for him to carry a gun (with the intend to do bodily harm). It was wrong to her son to try to take something away from another person/business.
    On the flip side. Why was an employee carry a gun in the work environment?

  • Ken Whalen

    This woman actually said that she wished the cops had gotten her son instead of the pizza guy. Her son would be just as dead but she would be famous.

  • Ed

    Justifiable homicide! But, I’ll hold my opinion till after I see the video!