Red Lobster patron fires warning shot to stop robber

A bystander armed with a handgun played a key role in stopping a Thursday night robbery at a Las Vegas Red Lobster, according to police.

The customer, who had a concealed weapon permit, fired a warning shot when he was confronted by a man stealing money from the seafood chain on Decatur Boulevard just south of U.S. Highway 95.

Police believe 28-year-old Dillon Webb entered the restaurant at 200 S. Decatur Blvd. brandishing a gun about 9:45 p.m. Thursday. He threatened customers and employees and grabbed the cash register drawer, police said.

Webb fled the building on foot, carrying the drawer, where he met the armed patron in the parking lot, police said. The customer fired one shot and the suspect dropped the cash drawer and ran from the parking lot.

Officers arrested Webb less than a half mile away shortly after in the 4600 block of Meadows Lane, police said. They recovered the stolen money, cash drawer and a gun.

Ronda Cox, the restaurant’s general manager, told the Review-Journal on Friday that no employees or customers were harmed and that staff followed company protocol.

“They’re taught to comply,” she said. “We have great people that work here and everybody did exactly what they were supposed to.”

Red Lobster has had no further contact with the customer who fired the warning shot, Cox said.

Webb is being held at the Clark County Detention Center and faces charges including two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary with a deadly weapon.

Reporter Cassandra Taloma contributed.

Contact reporter Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Contact reporter Chris Kudialis ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381.