NEW ORLEANS -- Police arrested one of the men they believe robbed the Waffle House on Elysian Fields Avenue at gunpoint.
Officers arrested 19-year-old Ernest Thomas for his alleged involvement in the robbery.
According to NOPD, Thomas, along with another unidentified suspect, entered the restaurant around 10:10 p.m. on April 19 armed with semi-automatic handguns.
The unidentified suspect jumped on the counter and demanded money from the cashier while Thomas allegedly stood on the side by the counter, covering the staff and serving as a lookout.
An armed customer pulled out his own gun as the unidentified suspect approached him, causing the suspect to flee. Thomas then allegedly followed as the armed customer opened fire, wounding him.
Detectives located a blood trail outside the Waffle House and followed it to where the getaway car had been parked. Police would later learn that Thomas had been dropped off at the University Medical Center emergency ramp with multiple gunshot wounds to his back and arm.
Security footage and information from witnesses ID'd the wounded man as Thomas and connected him to the robbery according to NOPD.
He will be charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery.
The investigation remains open and active. More charges may be filed against Thomas and the search for the unidentified suspect is ongoing.