Woman shot in face at Orlando restaurant dies

Orange County deputies search for gunman

ORLANDO, Fla. – A woman shot in the face during a robbery at an Orlando restaurant has died, according to deputies.

Orange County sheriff's deputies said the woman, whose name has not been released, died Thursday morning at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

The shooting happened just before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when a masked gunman stormed into the China Wok restaurant on Silver Star Road near Pine Hills Road.

"When he came up to one of the workers, there was a language barrier," said Orange County Sheriff spokeswoman Jane Watrel. "She didn't understand what he was saying and he shot her in the head."

Another worker was pistol-whipped in the incident and taken to a hospital.  She suffered minor injuries.

Deputies continue to search for the gunman.

Watrel said there were at least three other people inside the family-owned restaurant at the time of the shooting.

"Another worker nearby figured out something was going on, opened up the drawer, [and the gunman] took an undetermined amount of cash and took off," said Watrel.

"I was actually about to go in there and get something to eat," said Courtney Williamson, who witnessed the suspect fleeing the scene.

"I saw him run around the side of the building. By the time he got around there, I heard some gunshots and I don't know if that was him shooting back there this way. I didn't know, so I kind of, like, ducked," said Williamson. "I didn't know if he was shooting back this way or somebody was shooting at him."

The gunman was described as a black man in his 20s and about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a black hat, a black mask and holding a black revolver. He was also wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with horizontal stripes.

Deputies said there is surveillance video at the restaurant, but it hasn't been released.

Anyone who has information about the shooting is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


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