Two people are dead following an apparent murder-suicide in the drive-thru of the Taco Bell on Graham Road in Stow around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Stow Police Captain Bryan Snavely confirmed.
The Taco Bell at 993 Graham Road on the border of Stow and Cuyahoga Falls was surrounded by police cars around 9 p.m. Wednesday, along with fire department responders and a group of people.
Latest update: Police identify 2 people shot dead in apparent murder-suicide at Stow Taco Bell
Brandon Cromer and Blake Sherman said they were working at the nearby Rocco's Pizza when they heard gun shots and people started running into the restaurant for refuge.
Other witnesses described seeing a man in the drive-thru exit his vehicle. Witnesses said the man then approached the car in front of him and shot at least one person in the car. They said he then shot himself.
Taco Bell shooting: 'Too close to home': Customers, employees at shopping center react to incident
At 9 p.m., cars were seen abandoned at the drive-thru.
The restaurant remains closed Thursday.
Thursday morning, the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed two people were shot and pronounced dead on the scene at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday. The agency also confirmed that it and the Ohio BCI are investigating the incident as a possible homicide-suicide.
"An update will be given once autopsies are completed, identifications have been made, and families are notified," a release stated.
Others who said they witnessed the incident shared their reactions across social media.
"We just drove by on our way home and my heart sank. You could hear people crying in the parking lot. Prayers to all involved," one Facebook user wrote.
"Someone got out of their car, fired shots into the car in front of them and then turned the gun on themselves," another said.
"I heard 4 rapid popping sounds that could’ve been gunshots come from the direction of Taco Bell while walking to my car in the Walmart parking lot. A Stow police officer in a pickup truck was there within 3 minutes. He drove up over the sidewalk and sprinted towards the building," a third Facebook user said.
Akron resident Samantha Foster said her sister and two nieces work at the Taco Bell and were all there that night. Her sister, Foster added, is a manager at the restaurant. Foster said one of her nieces called her after the shooting and she came down.
"This is just a terrible, heartbreaking situation," Foster said.
This is a developing story.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story said witnesses saw three people get shot − the shooter, a driver and a passenger. A third person involved in the shooting is unconfirmed.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Apparent murder-suicide in Taco Bell drive-thru on Graham Road in Stow leaves 2 dead: police
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