The killer of Alabama McDonald's killed by an armed father injured during a shootout

A brave father allegedly opened fire on an armed masked man inside a McDonald's Alabama on Saturday, fatally shooting at the intruder while he was himself gravely injured.

The unidentified father was leaving the establishment with his sons when a masked man entered Birmingham's fast food restaurant and began shooting, reported WBRC-TV. The father fought back and, during the ensuing shootings, the shooter, the father and one of the teenage sons of the man were beaten, according to the chain.

The shooter, who was not identified, died as a result of his injuries. The other two wounds were not considered life threatening.

Markus Washington, one of McDonald's employees, told the WBRC television channel that he was earning two-quarters of a pound when bullets began to fly. Washington said it entered the freezer, where it heard about 15 shots.

"I feel grateful," he told the station. "Wrapping my head around everything, I just wished someone would wake me up from this nightmare."

Washington, unaware of the shooting in front of the freezer door, feared the worst.

"All we hear is like different shots, so in my mind, I imagine everyone is dead. He's looking for us, he says. Washington added that he was grateful to the armed customer to be present.

"Wrapping my head around everything, I just wished someone would wake me up from this nightmare."

– Markus Washington, McDonald's employee

"He's my hero, because I can only imagine how it would have been if he was not armed, we might not be here for this interview," said Washington.

The father should not face charges, the police said.

The authorities are now using to determine the motive of the armed man: did he intend to steal the restaurant? Target an employee? Or was there an even worse goal?

"This kind of thing is difficult for both families. The man who has unfortunately lost his life, the teenager who is at the hospital recovering from his injuries and the father who is also recovering from his injuries, "said police spokesman from Birmingham, Sgt. Bryan Shelton said, according to WVTM-13. "It's not easy to be a father and watch your child hurt himself, hurt himself like that. It's a truly heartbreaking experience. "