Not withstanding Night Rider's points , most of that are things the Manager should have done , and beyond the control of the front line employee , who is the one being threatened , not the Manager .
Yes , l am also in a jurisdiction eager to try to evoke bogus claims of " esculation " . But ( if news reports , and Sheriff's presser are reasonably close to accurate ) , the Shootee & Sidekick were blatantly the agressors , and the one's who brought up guns into the situiation .
The employee made prudent steps to defend from credible threat of armed attack .
The attempted snatch was itself a deadly threat , justified to use leathal force to defend .
Why would he ( employee ) have his Roscoe in his backpack ?
Fla is Permitless Carry . Employee may well wish to exercise his Rights before and after his shift . Maybe in his pack in employee lockerroom was more secure than in his car . Or maybe he rode motorcycle , or bicycle , or lived nearby and walked , to uber'ed , or took the bus .
( If news reports and Sheriff presser are reasonably close to accurate ) , Employee's screw up was in leaving the scene .
I'm not a Lawyer , much less His Lawyer . But an obvious defense ( if true) for the tampering charge would be to the effect of :
He was in fear that additional confederates of those two were about to attack him in rettaliation for shooting their buddy , before LE could arrive . So it was for his safety , safety of innocent bystanders , and to De Esculate to Get Out of Dodge , until the Scene at the McDs was stabilized by LE .
And of course , and that as soon as informed that the scene was secured , he returned , to fully cooperate with LE .
