Montgomery restaurant owner issues call for unity from hospital bed after shooting

A Montgomery restaurant owner is calling for unity from his hospital bed after being shot in the back and the arm.

Cedric Sanders, the owner of Can A Brotha Get A Slice, was shot Tuesday evening in the 1600 block of South Decatur.

The community has shown an outpouring of love for Sanders, who curates signs outside his restaurant calling for peace across Montgomery.

Former Montgomery County Commissioner Ronda Walker asked for Montgomerians to rally around Sanders.

"If you don’t know Cedric, you may know his pizza," Walker posted Wednesday on Facebook . "Can A Brotha Get A Slice is the best pizza in MGM. I don't know Cedric but I can feel his personality each time I walk into his place. Big smile, big personality, funny guy, and he absolutely speaks truth to the nonsense."

Montgomery artist Kevin King shared a video of Sanders from his hospital bed Wednesday in which Sanders expressed his gratefulness for the people of Montgomery.

"I love every single one of you," Sanders said. He later added, "Keep that love flowing. That's beautiful."

Sanders also called for Montgomerians to stand together.

"One team, one fight, one chicken, one bite," he said.

Sanders' restaurant remains open and continues to serve customers.

More: Cedric Sanders mission: Help improve the community, one pizza at a time

Gregory Robinson, 18, is charged with first-degree assault in connection with the shooting. Montgomery Police Department officers arrested Robinson, and he is in the Montgomery jail, MPD Maj. Saba Coleman said in an email.

Montgomery police earlier confirmed that they responded at about 6:08 p.m. Tuesday to the shooting of a man in the 1600 block of South Decatur Street. They did not name the victim. Police said the man suffered life-threatening wounds and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Police said they took a man into custody and charges are pending. MPD did not immediately release any other information about the shooting.

The Hungry Black Man, a media platform dedicated to serving the Black culinary world, asked for change in the community.

"I am furious and deeply concerned right now," blog creator Starex Smith said on Facebook . "I'm thankful that he is expected to recover, but he didn’t deserve this, just as our other Black male restaurant owners in Atlanta and Indianapolis didn’t deserve to have been shot."

The post searched for a solution to the violence in communities across the nation.

"There must be a change in our communities. We cannot harm the few businesses and employers we have. I am praying for a solution to this demonic scourge. Cedric is one of the kindest and most generous brothers you’ll ever meet. Please keep him in your prayers," the post read.

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery restaurant owner issues call for unity from hospital bed after shooting