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Krystal Restaurant Shooter Tells Judge: 'I Can't Remember Anything I Did'

Police Officer, Restaurant Manager Injured In Armed Robbery

Posted: 10:58 am EDT July 5, 2008Updated: 3:06 pm EDT July 5, 2008

The case against Marquet Donald, the man accused of shooting a police officer and manager during a robbery at Krystal restaurant, has been bound over to Clayton County Superior Court. Donald made his first court appearance Saturday in Clayton County.

Donald, 22, of Hampton, Ga., appeared in Clayton County Magistrate Court. The former Krystal employee was arrested after his father turned him in to authorities. "I have a disorder and I can't remember anything I did," said Donald at his court appearance Saturday. The judge denied bond.

Investigators said Donald entered the Krystal in the 3500 block of Highway 138 Wednesday night when an employee taking out the trash propped open the back door.

"The gunman demanded that the manager go into the office and hand over money from the safe," said Clayton police Chief Jeff Turner.

Police said Donald then instructed the other employees to walk to the rear of the store, enter a cooler, and place their cell phones into a bag. The employees were not harmed.

When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the store manager, 49-year-old Cheryl Alphabet of Conley, lying in the floor of the walk-in freezer with a bullet wound to the head.

Police said the manager tried to grab the robber's gun.

"A shot was heard," said Turner. "The manager was shot in the head."

The manager was transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where she remained Saturday in serious, but stable condition.

In an emotional interview with WSB-TV, the manager’s family told Channel 2 the victim actually tried to mentor the accused shooter. “She often told him (Donald) to get his life together,” one family member said.

A Clayton County police officer arrived at the restaurant just as Donald took off in the manager's red Pontiac Sunfire.

During a chase, Donald jumped out of the car and began wrestling with Officer Matthew Whitton, a six-year veteran of the Clayton County Police Department. An altercation involving the officer and Donald resulted in a struggle for the officer’s service weapon.

Whitton was able to maintain possession of his weapon however, received a single gunshot wound to the left wrist during the incident. Donald escaped on foot. Whitton is expected to recover.

Donald is scheduled to appear in court again July 29.

He is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, obstruction of an officer, kidnapping, and theft by taking.

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