An incident that happened last week in Rockford has made national headlines. And, like other headlines about Rockford, it's not particularly for the best reason.

On September 5, 2021, a man walked into the Subway Restaurant at 1120 East State Street with the intent to rob the place. The incident escalated in a hurry. The worker decided to fight him.

WHAT WENT DOWN

The robber walked into the restaurant where Araceli Sotelo was working alone. He demanded all her money and she explained she didn't have any. He didn't like that answer and yelled, "give me everything before I hurt you!"

Sotelo, the Subway employee, sized his up and thought she could take matters into her own hands, and a scuffle broke out. Then started to show his gun.

Here's what followed, according to what she told MyStateline,

He dropped it trying to hold onto my purse, and I end up pulling his sweatshirt off him and I was like ‘show your face, show your face, you are on camera,' and he was like ‘here you can have your purse back just give me back my stuff.’ He wanted me to give him back his gun and his clothes.' Sotelo said. 'I just hit him on the head with it, that is what he was doing to me.'

Here's some of the footage from a security camera, shared on Twitter.

There's a lot of developing drama linked to this story, so much that it caught the eyes of TMZ, who interviewed Sotelo.

In the interview, she shares details about her fears of the criminal, who stole her person and identification, coming to her home and hurting her. She also says she's getting no support from the local Subway's management.

She was suspended after the footage appeared on social media, which she claims she didn't have a hand in. She says she has been suspended indefinitely until it is all completely removed from the internet. We all know, in this era, it's not possible.

Credit: @MiphaUK, Twitter
Credit: @MiphaUK, Twitter
loading...

She, Araceli Sotelo, thinks the Subway she works for wanted everything removed so corporate wouldn't find out.

The owner of that particular location has not returned calls from local media however Subway's corporate office issued a statement to TMZ but ignored the young woman's suspension.

We are deeply concerned about the recent incident at a franchised location in Rockford, Illinois. The restaurant owner and management are fully cooperating with the police investigation, and we request patience until that process is complete.

Watch her interview with TMZ here.

speaking of food... how about these restaurants and stores you'd love to have in Rockford?

... and then there's these businesses you probably which were still in Rockford.

More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM