'I could've been dead last night': Man fights off armed robber at 19th Ward restaurant

Show Caption Hide Caption People's Choice Kitchen opens following robbery attempt People's Choice Kitchen opens following robbery attempt. 'I will not let this stop me' said owner Evangela Stanley

The scene on Brooks Avenue on Christmas Eve was like a scene out of "It's a Wonderful Life." But the night before presented a much different scene.

A Jamaican and soul food restaurant in southwest Rochester that is hosting a popular “pay what you can afford” promotion through Jan. 1 was the scene of an attempted armed robbery Monday night. A man who fought off the assailant was injured.

Evangela Stanley, owner of People's Choice Kitchen, 579 Brooks Ave., was in the restaurant at the time and was shaken by the experience, but on Tuesday morning she vowed to carry on.

"I will not let this stop me from doing what I enjoy doing, which is feeding my community," Stanley said while standing outside her business near the intersection of Thurston Road. "This is what I’m here for, to serve my community, to give back and try to make Rochester, my community, a better place. I love my community. This is my calling.”

The community came out in droves Tuesday, bringing flowers, gifts and support. People ordered food and paid extra; she ran out of several items.

Darnell Wilson, 32, whom Stanley called a hero, suffered a 3-inch cut to his right hand and puncture wounds on his side Monday after he ended up crashing through the restaurant's front window during a scuffle with an armed assailant.

"I don't know what took over me, whether it was angels or God, but I didn't have a drop of fear in me," Wilson said. "I just saw Van was in trouble and I went to her rescue. I thank God that all of us made it out of this."

Wilson heard Stanley screaming. He saw a man going after her and fought off the suspect until police arrived around 7:40 p.m. Monday.

He pointed to a hole in the floor near the restaurant's front door, where the armed suspect tried to shoot him.

"I just came to her rescue," Wilson offered in a matter-of-fact manner. "Not thinking, I just immediately started fighting the guy off. He tried to shoot me twice. Luckily, he missed twice. I fought him through the window. By that time, the cook from the back came out and helped me wrestle the guy off. He went running."

Wilson was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he received stitches.

But miraculously, no one was struck by gunfire. The assailant fled and left the gun at the scene. Officers were able to recover the weapon, Wilson said.

"The one thing that flashed in the mind for a quick millisecond was my son (Jah'mire Wilson, who will be 10 next week)," Wilson said. "That's when I said to myself, 'Not today.' I just started hitting and punching him straight through the window. And then I saw the gun was a little loose and I punched him again. That's when the gun came loose."

Two people were detained during the initial investigation, but they were later found not to have been involved in the incident, said Rochester Police Lt. Thomas Shaw.

The day after the incident, Wilson was calm, but he was clearly relieved and thankful.

"This time of the year is hard," Wilson said. "You're trying to get gifts and get things ready for your family. Money is a little short, so she (Stanley) took it upon herself to say, 'You're shortchanged, you don't have it, if you wanna feed your family, come here.'"

Mayor Lovely Warren, county legislators, police officers and fellow business owners were among the people who visited Tuesday.

Monique Chapman of Rochester, who owns The Groom Room spa, jumped in to help take orders.

"I knew it would be overwhelming," she said. "I came in to help."

Tymisha Williams, who is a regular at the restaurant, helped expedite orders before she headed to work at her own business, 81 Degrees Hair Salon.

"It is so rewarding," she said of the crowd. "(Stanley) is so sweet. She is kind. It's just overwhelming."

From behind the counter, peering out over several flower arrangements, Stanley also described the response as overwhelming.

"It's beautiful," she said. "It's unreal. I'm speechless."

Darnell Wilson, wrestled with an armed robber and was injured, as the suspect tried to rob the People’s Choice Kitchen on Brooks Avenue. Wilson tumbled through the front window.



The suspect fired twice and miraculously didn’t hit anyone. A true holiday miracle. #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/YPGgoQhuwZ — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) December 24, 2019

Since early December, as a way of embracing the holiday spirit, Stanley has been letting her customers pay what they can.

Wilson said he used to stay in the apartment above the restaurant and that's how he became acquainted with Stanley. He said the entire incident doesn't make any sense.

"Sometimes I was short of change, she would hook me up with a dinner for free," Wilson said. "That's why I don't understand what happened to her, because she's so giving to the community. Why would you do something so stupid and reckless to somebody that's giving back?"

Wilson was amazed no one was seriously injured.

"I am thankful no one was hurt," he said. "The recognition, I appreciate it, but that wasn't on my mind when I did what I did. I wasn't thinking about rewards. I wasn't thinking about being a hero. I was just thinking about making sure Van was safe."

More: Rochester restaurant extends pay what you can afford offer until Jan. 1

MGREENWO@Gannett.com

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com

TRACYS@Gannett.com