1994 Popeyes shooting

Robbery and mass shooting in Alabama, US December 2025 February 2025 1994 Popeyes shooting Location of the Popeyes restaurant Gadsden, Alabama, U.S. 34.009898 -85.987736 inline,title yes 15 April 16, 1994 12:00 a.m. CT Mass shooting, armed robbery 3 1 Robert Bryant Melson .45-caliber M1911 semi-automatic pistolMelson v. State FindLaw https://caselaw.findlaw.com/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1117064.html March 26, 1999 November 20, 2022 The Popeyes shooting occurred On April 16, 1994, when three employees were shot and killed and a fourth employee was seriously injured at a Popeyes restaurant in Gadsden, Alabama. The perpetrator, 22-year-old Robert Bryant Melson (June 5, 1971 – June 8, 2017)http://doc.state.al.us/deathrow.asp Alabama Department of Corrections doc.state.al.us https://web.archive.org/web/20121024002801/http://doc.state.al.us/deathrow.asp October 24, 2012 and his acomplice, 17-year-old Cuhuatemoc Hinricky Peraita (born May 19, 1976), robbed the restaurant of over $2,100, led the four employees into a freezer, and shot all four of them.Magin Janis L. Three fast food employees found slain https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113365203/three-fast-food-employees-found-slain/ The Selma Times-Journal April 17, 1994 6 Newspapers.com November 20, 2022 Melson was sentenced to death for the crime and executed in 2017. Peraita received a life sentence, but was later sentenced to death for killing another inmate in prison. Peraita remains on death row.June 9, 2017 Alabama executes man convicted of murder in 1994 Popeyes robbery The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/09/alabama-executes-man-convicted-1994-popeyes-robbery-midazolam April 2, 2023Hrynkiw Ivana June 7, 2017 Robert Melson set to die Thursday for killing three, injuring another in 1994 Popeye's shooting al.com https://www.al.com/news/2017/06/robert_melson_set_to_die_thurs.html April 2, 2023 Shooting On the night of April 15, 1994, Robert Melson and Cuhuatemoc Peraita entered a Popeyes restaurant in east Gadsden through the back door of the building after 23-year-old employee Darrell K. Collier unlocked it to allow fellow employees Nathaniel Baker and Bryant Archer, both aged 17, to take out the trash. Upon entry, Melson and Peraita ordered Archer, Baker, Collier, and another employee, 18-year-old Tamika Collins, into the restaurant's office and demanded that they empty the safe. They complied, after which Melson ordered the group to get inside the restaurant's freezer. Shortly after locking them in the freezer, Melson unlocked the door and opened fire. Baker, Collier, and Collins all died of their wounds before paramedics arrived. Archer was shot at least four times (in the left arm, shoulder, neck, and jaw), but he survived and was able to crawl to the restaurant's office to call 911. The killings happened shortly after midnight in the early hours of April 16, 1994.Magin Janis L. Survivor thought he had saved others https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113365068/survivor-thought-he-had-saved-others/ The Montgomery Advertiser April 18, 1994 1, 4 Newspapers.com November 20, 2022Thornton Donna 2014-04-18 Decades later, crime echoes in survivor’s life https://gadsdenmessenger.com/decades-later-crime-echoes-in-survivor%E2%80%99s-life/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20260630182032/https://gadsdenmessenger.com/decades-later-crime-echoes-in-survivor%E2%80%99s-life/ 2026-06-30 2026-06-30 Gadsden Messenger en-US Investigation and arrests Peraita worked at the restaurant before the murders, and despite both Peraita and Melson wearing bandanas concealing their faces, Archer knew and recognized Peraita due to a "distinctive haircut" he had. Archer identified Peraita as a participant, and police located his address from a paycheck he had failed to retrieve from the restaurant. Hours later, police stopped a car in which Peraita and Melson were riding and arrested them. Archer also positively identified Melson as the shooter.Stein Kelsey 2013-04-06 Death row inmate loses appeal in 1994 slaying of 3 Popeyes employees in Gadsden https://www.al.com/east-alabama/2013/04/death_row_inmate_loses_appeal.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20260630182604/https://www.al.com/east-alabama/2013/04/death_row_inmate_loses_appeal.html 2026-06-30 2026-06-30 AL.com en Legal proceedings 150px|thumb|right|Robert Bryant Melson 250px|thumb|right|Cuhuatemoc Hinricky Peraita Melson was convicted of his role in the crime; he was sentenced to death on May 17, 1996, and placed on death row under Alabama Department of Corrections ID 0000Z601. Melson had two execution dates set in 2010, both of which were stayed. On April 5, 2017, Melson had an execution date set for June 8, 2017.https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/upcoming-executions Upcoming Executions - Death Penalty Information Center deathpenaltyinfo.org July 30, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170410050743/https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/upcoming-executions April 10, 2017 He received a temporary stay from an appellate court on June 2, but the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the stay on June 6 without comment. At 5:45 p.m. on the night of the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a temporary stay so Justice Clarence Thomas could review Melson's appeals. The stay was later lifted and three days after his birthday, the execution began at 9:55 p.m. Melson was pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m.http://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-melson-executed-in-alabama-for-94-triple-murder-during-robbery/ Robert Melson executed in Alabama for '94 triple murder during robbery cbsnews.com June 9, 2017 July 30, 2017Hrynkiw Ivanaki June 8, 2017 Robert Bryant Melson executed for 1994 triple slaying The Birmingham News https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2017/06/robert_bryant_melson_execution.html August 16, 2023 Peraita was found guilty by a jury on February 10, 1996, after three hours of deliberations.1996-02-12 19-Year-Old Gets Life in Robbery Killings (Published 1996) https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/12/us/19-year-old-gets-life-in-robbery-killings.html 2025-08-25 en Peraita was sentenced to life without parole on March 15, 1996.1996-03-17 LIFE SENTENCE IN 3 KILLINGS AT FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/03/17/life-sentence-in-3-killings-at-fast-food-restaurant/ 2025-08-25 Chicago Tribune en-US On December 11, 1999, when he was 23 years old, Peraita participated in the fatal stabbing of fellow inmate Quincy Lewis while serving his life sentence at the Holman Correctional Facility. Witnesses said Peraita held Lewis down while another inmate, Michael Castillo, committed the stabbing. 2001-09-20 Sex trade inside prison alleged in capital murder trial https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2001/09/20/sex-trade-inside-prison-alleged-in-capital-murder-trial/31985167007/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20260630180252/https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2001/09/20/sex-trade-inside-prison-alleged-in-capital-murder-trial/31985167007/ 2026-06-30 2026-06-30 Gadsden Times en-US Peraita was given a death sentence for Lewis's murder in on November 1, 2001.2021-02-10 Alabama inmates on death row https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/picture-gallery/news/crime/2021/02/10/alabama-death-row-photos-prisoners-awaiting-execution/4449121001/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20260630182951/https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/picture-gallery/news/crime/2021/02/10/alabama-death-row-photos-prisoners-awaiting-execution/4449121001/ 2026-06-30 2026-06-30 Montgomery Advertiser en-US Aftermath In 2014, Archer, then 38, gave an interview to The Birmingham News in which he expressed his hopes that the murder victims would not be forgotten; he also said he experienced chronic and neuropathic pain and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the crime. He also expressed difficulty finding work, having last held a job in 2006 due to employers' concerns about him being a liability because of his disabilities. In a separate 2014 interview for the Gadsden Messenger, Archer expressed that he had anxiety regarding the prospect of his 17-year-old daughter getting a job at the time due to his experience at 17.Thornton William 2014-04-16 20 years after Gadsden triple homicide, survivor hopes memories don't fade https://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/2014/04/20_years_after_gadsden_triple.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20260630181733/https://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/2014/04/20_years_after_gadsden_triple.html 2026-06-30 2026-06-30 AL.com en See also List of death row inmates in the United States List of people executed in Alabama List of people executed in the United States in 2017 List of shootings in Alabama References ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out in Alabama Thomas Douglas Arthur May 26, 2017 Robert Bryant Melson June 8, 2017 Torrey Twane McNabb October 19, 2017 |- ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out in the United States Thomas Douglas Arthur – Alabama May 26, 2017 Robert Bryant Melson – Alabama June 8, 2017 William Charles Morva – Virginia July 6, 2017 Category:1994 in Alabama Category:1994 mass shootings in the United States Category:1994 murders in the United States Category:April 1994 crimes in the United States Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1994 Category:Attacks on restaurants in the United States Category:1994 mass murders Category:1990s mass murders in the United States Category:Mass shootings in Alabama Category:Murder committed by minors Category:Robberies in the United States Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States Category:Gadsden, Alabama