Starbucks Fires St. Louis Employees Who Resisted Robbery

Two Starbucks employees in St. Louis were fired after fighting back against armed robbers during a December 2023 incident, a decision the company says was based on safety protocols but which has led to a wrongful termination lawsuit. Newly released surveillance video from the store near Saint Louis University campus has brought renewed attention to the case as the legal battle continues.

The incident occurred on December 17, 2023, when two masked men entered the store and demanded money. Employee Michael Harris, who was working the drive-thru, attempted to open the cash register but lacked managerial access. One of the assailants, later identified as Joshua Noe, then struck Harris in the back of the head with a pistol. Harris described the moment, saying his vision went black and he thought he was about to be shot, calling it a life or death situation.

Another employee, Devin Jones-Ransom, noticed a piece of the weapon break off during the struggle and, realizing the gun might be fake, lunged at the assailant. Security footage shows Jones-Ransom pinning the suspect against the drive-thru window, with Harris quickly joining the fight. The two workers managed to subdue and hold...