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Manager, Customer Charged After Shots Fired Disturbance At Century Mexican Restaurant
March 2, 2023
The manager of a Century Mexican restaurant and a customer are facing charges following in incident an which a juvenile employee allegedly fired a gun.
Manager Salvador Sotelo-Nunez (pictured left), age 48 of Flomaton, was charged with furnishing a weapon to a minor under age 18, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and battery. Customer Brent Allen Johnson (pictured right), 21, was charged with felony criminal mischief with damage over $1,000.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call January 19 at Vallarta’s Restaurant at 9010 North Century Boulevard.
According to an arrest report, Johnson and a female were asked to leave because the restaurant was closing. Sotelo-Nuneztold deputies that Johnson paid his bill and became angry on the way out, lunging toward him in an aggressive manner. He said a scuffle followed at the door when Johnson repeatedly pulled on the door in an attempt to open it and regain entry to the restaurant, the report states.
Sotelo-Nunez told deputies that “Johnson forcefully pulled the door open against his attempts to hold it closed, he punched Johnson in the face”. Sotelo-Nunez said he and Johnson began to fight outside the business, at which time Johnson went to his truck and returned with a firearm, the report continues.
Sotelo-Nunez went to his office to retrieve his .380 handgun, and a juvenile employee told Sotelo-Nunez to give him the handgun, ECSO said. The juvenile employee then allegedly fired the gun out the door of the restaurant. He later told deputies he fired three shots — two rounds fired into the air as warning shots and one at the rear wheel of Johnson’s truck as he was leaving the restaurant parking lot. Three shell casings were recovered by investigators.
Sotelo-Nunez claimed damage to the door was caused by Johnson punching it, deputies said, and Sotelo-Nunez stated he wished to file charges.
Johnson told deputies that after Sotelo-Nunez forced them to leave, Sotelo-Nunez stepped outside and punched him in the face. He told deputies that he punched and kicked the door because he was angry after being punched in the face, the report states. He told deputies that he never pointed the gun at anyone and kept it in his waistband.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said surveillance video showed Johnson exiting the restaurant at 10:14 p.m., and Sotelo-Nunez following and pushing him in the back and out the door. Sotelo-Nunez then pushed him again, prompting a physical altercation between the two. The video continues to show Sotelo-Nunez retrieve the weapon and give it to the juvenile employee who unlocked the door, went outside and fired a round over North Century Boulevard. After two more shots, the juvenile returned the gun to its holster and placed it inside on the bar.
A second video, the ECSO said, showed the parking lot with Johnson and Sotelo-Nunez in a physical altercation, and it showed Johnson punching the door. It shows Johnson retrieve a firearm from his truck but never point it at anyone, keeping it pointed at the ground. Deputies said the video showed the juvenile employee fired across North Century Boulevard and at Johnson’s truck twice. The employee then exited the restaurant into the parking lot, still pointing the gun at the pickup as it drove northbound on Century Boulevard, according to the arrest report.
It was not immediately clear if the juvenile was charged in the incident.
Comments
15 Responses to “Manager, Customer Charged After Shots Fired Disturbance At Century Mexican Restaurant”
We have been going to Vallarta Mexican Restaurant in Century once a week since the place opened.Their authentic cuisine is very tasty and we think they provide very professional hospitality to the customers.We always enjoy our meals and little chats with Salvador or any other employees which make the atmosphere even more inviting.Salvador and his wife have created a welcoming place for families and friend to meet up and enjoy a nice meal together. So in my opinion if some customers express themselves as being difficult you have to deal with it. The fact that the customer got violent and started damaging the door just shows you how disrespectful some people can be. The manager just did what any other business owner would have done, he was protecting his place.
This is what I call “When bad things happen to good people.” Fortunately people still come around. we have just left Vallartas Mexican Restaurant and it was crowded tonight.
What we really need now is another ” stand your ground ” law combined with open carry, no back ground checks at gun shows or privet sales. thank God the NRA is making sure that any trips to the mental Hospital are off limits and that back ground checks are distroyed so no one will know who has a gun
This manager has always been extremely nice and friendly to my family. We are there frequently with extended family and usually have a large party. He always checks on us, the food, and makes sure everything is perfect. The other staff has always been friendly, too. Vallarta’s is the best thing to ever happen to Century, restaurant-wise. The food is pricey, but it’s worth it. And with inflation causing rising costs, it’s still not too terrible on the wallet.
Hopefully this customer’s negative behaviors and the staff’s reaction doesn’t cause the restaurant to shut down.
I’m actually still cringing at “a Century Mexican restaurant” the rest just seems typical. I can’t imagine eating anywhere in Century and if I did I’d expect this type of service.
It’s a good idea to make it legal for more unstable people to carry guns in public.
This doesn’t sound like a good policy.
Management is extremely nice and keeps a very clean restaurant maybe some people can’t work there because they don’t want to work it’s hard to be a boss and a friend some folks don’t like taking orders and clean even though it’s part of the job everyone should own or manage a business just once and they would have more respect and gratitude for the people serving them dealing with the public is hard but enjoyable everyone wants to go home when it’s time to close or get off work you shouldn’t have to be ask to leave so a business close up and get ready for the next day glad nobody was injured is this unfortunate incident people get out on bail that has murdered sold drugs to children beat their spouse stolen from hard working people it’s ridiculous that he is being held you should be able to protect your business your home and all your family possessions and family members maybe he should have called the law sooner but no business owner wants to call the law on their customers bad situation for all hope everyone walks away from this without any more jail time and better understanding of how to handle a situation like this if there ever in a situation like this things can escalate very quick good luck to all involved and hope to see Salvador back at work soon
Should not go to a restaurant at closing time . I don’t blame the manager for making them leave . Should have went somewhere else
Never did like the food there. I am glad I didn’t tell them.
Tacos and Target Tuesdays.
Never had any issues here myself. Food and service has always been extremely well. A little pricey but you can’t even eat fast food anymore for under 10 dollars hardly.
I’ve ate there probably more than anybody and have never had a problem or seen anything that was questionable. Mr Salvador has always been respectful and has always went out of his way to make sure you have everything you need. Don’t know what happened to cause this but it doesn’t sound right. I hope everything is resolved and he stays working in the restaurant……cause it’s the best thing that has been in Century and Flomaton by far!!
can’t wait for legal concealed carry for everyone. should be fun.
This Manager is the reason I quit going there! I loved their food it was great! But, the manager is an ass! Called me a liar and sent a pic of the waitress bringing our food to our table. Anyway, that is a diff story. The man should NOT be allowed to work in public. He’s rude and so hateful to all (employees, customers)!! Needs anger management.
Taco Tuesdays will never be the same in Century.
More than enough stupid to go around. If the manager did shove Johnson after he was outside the business, then he will be the aggressor/agitator as seen by the law. What losers.