Police: no charges in catering business shooting

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Miami Police said a business owner acted in self defense when he shot a man inside his catering business.

Police said a former employee and his friend confronted Eric Francois at his business, Yolene Catering, located at 5929 NW Second Ave., Monday morning. Police said the former employee was upset about money Francois still supposedly owed him. When the friend picked up a metal chair to attack Francois, police said, the business owner opened fire. "I just defended myself," Francois said. "One pulled a chair, this big heavy, steel chair I got inside, and I just have to pull my gun and defend myself."

That person now lies in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Authorities detained both the former employee and Francois for questioning. They later released Francois after determining he acted in self defense. He returned to work later that day.

Police held the former employee involved in the altercation in the back of a police cruiser. He did not want to be identified but described the scene to the media. "He pulled out the gun and cocked it back and shot him. The first time he fell down, and he shot him again, and then he grabbed the gun and pointed it at me and the other guy grabbed me, and I walked out, and I called the police."

The man admitted that the confrontation erupted after a dispute over money. "I was working for him, and he told me he wasn't going to pay me, it was a try-out, to call him to small claims court," he said.

Francois' wife Yolene Francois, a co-owner of the business, was upset by the scene in her business. "It's very sad to see someone on the floor," she said. Still, she said her husband did nothing wrong.

Police have not identified the injured man, as they are working to notify his family.

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