Manassas Journal Messenger | Subway employee shot during robbery now in stable condition

A Subway sandwich maker who was shot during a Monday night robbery was upgraded from critical to stable condition Wednesday.

He remains at Inova Fairfax Hospital’s intensive care unit, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Subway Manager Bappa Sarma, the man’s supervisor, said he looked healthier Wednesday.

“He looks much better,” Sarma said. “He is doing better.”

The man, who is between 26 and 28 years old, was working at the 14505 Jefferson Davis Highway sandwich shop at 10 p.m. Monday when two men — one armed with a handgun — walked in the shop. A robber forced the clerk’s 31-year-old friend to the floor at the front of the shop, while the other brought the employee to the women’s bathroom, Sarma said. There he shot the employee twice in the upper-body at close range.

Earlier police reports indicated both men were brought to the bathroom.

The robbers stole an entire cash drawer and one of the victims’ wallets. Sarma is unsure how much money was taken because the entire drawer is missing and its computerized data has not been recovered.

The robbers, described as black men between 20 and 30 years old, both weighing about 160 pounds and wearing a black hooded coat and all black clothes, knocked the front door off its hinges as they escaped. They ran off toward to the rear of the building.

One robber was about 5 feet 9 inches tall and the other was about 5 feet 8 inches, said Prince William police Detective Dennis Mangan.

When Sarma saw his employee Wednesday, they only exchanged a few words. Sarma asked him how he was doing, and the man was able to respond.

“He’s a very good worker, very reliable, very good, hard-working guy,” Sarma said. “Its hard to find people like that to work with you.”

This was the third violent attack in the Prince William County area within a week. On Wednesday, Gabriella Mello, 51, of Woodbridge, was stabbed to death at a Nokesville horse farm. Police charged farmhand Jeffrey Charles Gadd with murder. Sharon Lambert, 55, of Manassas Park, was shot in the head Thursday. Her husband Michael Lambert was charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Police said they are utilizing all available resources to apprehend the assailants.

Anyone with information can call Prince William County Crime Solvers’ anonymous tip line at (703) 670-3700. Up to $1,000 is available for information that leads to arrests.