Shocking Restaurant Shooting
Senseless shooting of Houston restaurant workers mobilizes a community to help critically-injured cook
Adair Kitchen owners Katie Barnhart and Nick Adair have set up a fund to benefit Estela Renteria, who was critically injured when two men assaulted her and a coworker Tuesday night as they were leaving the Tanglewood-area restaurant in a robbery. The 31-year-old Renteria was shot in the head, while her co-worker 20-year-old Jose Isabel-Amador Vasquez was hit in the arm.
Renteria is a cook at Adair. Vasquez is a dishwasher. The shooting occurred as they were leaving work at around 11:30 p.m.
In a statement, Adair's brother and sister restaurant owners thank "the first responders and all of those who rendered aid to our employees that evening."
Police released sketches of the two suspects. They are described as "two black males in their early 20s, about 5 feet 6 inches tall. Both have thin builds and medium to dark complexion One of the suspects wore distinctive orange or red colored jeans."
The letter continues from Adair kitchen's owners continues with good news about Renteria's condition:
We are happy to report that Estela did beautifully in surgery yesterday afternoon. While we are encouraged by her progress over the last 24 hours, we know that the road ahead will be a trying time. A fund has been established in her honor to help her family, and to aid in her recovery expenses.
We again would like to thank all members of our extended Adair Kitchen family for the outpouring of love and support. Those that would like to make contributions to Estela's fund may do so.
The fund has already exceeded its modest $500 goal, with donations quickly zooming past $1,800 and counting.