The day I was attacked by 5 teens at Subway at 5225 Highway 85

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Hey friends,

Today, I’m peeling back the curtain to share a story I haven’t spoken about before. It’s raw, it’s real and honestly, it’s something that has shifted how I approach safety and vigilance in my everyday life. A few Tuesdays ago, what started as a simple lunch stop turned into a whirlwind of chaos that left me physically hurt, mentally shaken and utterly resolved to take steps to ensure nothing like this happens again.

I wasn’t feeling well that morning and decided to call out from work. After a trip to the doctor, Terry wanted to grab lunch at Subway, located at 5225 Highway 85, Atlanta, GA. I tagged along inside, figuring it’d be a quick stop.

Little did we know, trouble was brewing. While we were inside, five African American boys entered the Subway. The lone employee—a young pregnant woman—immediately recognized them and told them to leave, reminding them that they’d been banned weeks ago for stealing money from her tip jar. Only one of the boys was allowed inside, but things didn’t end there.

When the employee asked their ages, the response was shocking. One boy claimed he was 13 and another 15, casually adding that they didn’t feel like going to school that day because they were there the day before. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the employee, who tried to reason with them, warning the lingering boy to steer clear of bad influences.

As Terry and I headed to our car, I could sense something was off. The boys were still outside, yelling and scheming. My instincts kicked in—I dialed 911, anticipating trouble. That’s when they rushed toward me, the old chubby white guy they thought they could bully and gang up on. The boys surrounded me, shouting taunts, screaming I was racist in spite of knowing nothing of me, daring me to swing at them. It was a surreal moment—the kind where time feels frozen. Terry shouted at me to get in the car, but I held my ground, refusing to become the aggressor, mostly because of their age and I didn't want to be the one that gets charged with assaulting a minor. Then it escalated. One boy slammed the car door on me—first against my leg, then grabbed my shoulders trying to slam me against the door from the inside. Another kicked Terry’s car door, breaking the handle and denting it. Amid the chaos, they realized I’d called 911 and tried to snatch my phone away. And here's where things get crystal clear: we’re in an open-carry state. While I wasn’t armed at the time, you better believe that going forward, I’ll open carry at times when I know I'm in a place or around people I know are dangerous. Holding a weapons carry permit is handy for concealed carry, which I do everywhere but work where it's not allowed. Even if I didn't have my permit—permit or no permit I would still carry.
This experience has been a wake-up call. From now on, my Ray-Ban smart glasses will be charged and ready to record photos or videos of anything remotely suspicious. Having an additional layer of protection and evidence brings me peace of mind.

The Lighthouse Garden Apartments where the boys ran to.

The Subway employee valiantly ran out to intervene, forcing the boys to scatter to a nearby apartment complex. Police eventually arrived, took our statements and promised(???) to patrol the area, looking for the boys from the security footage captured by the Chervon station and Subway—a promise that feels more like a brush-off. Adding to the frustration, our car insurance called me first and stated that if claimed they would refuse to cover any medical expenses I may have incurred since the car wasn’t moving. Also, the fact that our deductible is higher than the cost of repairs, this is completely on us since the police haven't been any help even though I gave them a pretty good idea of where the boys live, Lighthouse Garden Apartments, as well as the idea of cross-referencing attendance records of any teenagers in the local school that match the descriptions we gave and appeared in the security video in the parking lot. They kids have already made it clear their banning from not only the Subway but the entire property owned by the adjoined Chevron gas station over 2 months ago, will not stop them from being a problem. Also, the "Manager" of the Subway is never in when I call to speak to her, they didn't fill out an incident report and the law offices I called to ask advice on any recourse stated that the State of Georgia is about to have a bill signed by the republican governor, Kemp, making it almost impossible to sue a business whose security failed to keep their guests safe, meaning there will be little liability if you are injured or killed on their property.

Oh, and because life enjoys piling on, our brand new fridge’s ice maker broke down, the part that needs replacing was on backorder from Frigidaire and when it finally came in and the repairman was scheduled, he failed to show up—Frigidaire is sending another sometime soon, just another hiccup in a week of chaos.

Life isn’t always smooth sailing and sharing our struggles helps us find strength. Have you ever had an experience that shook your worldview? How did you bounce back? I’d love to hear your thoughts or stories in the comments below—it’s moments like these where connection means everything. And if you're interested in showing support, whether through a thoughtful comment, sharing this post or even a token of appreciation *help with the cost of the door repair* know that it’s deeply appreciated. Every ounce of support makes a difference.

Thank you for letting me share this journey with you.
Until next time


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