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Police: Restaurant Worker Shot In Forest Lake Armed Robbery

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Forest Lake Police Department is looking for a suspect after an armed robbery at Don Julio's Mexican Restaurant late Tuesday night, and the restaurant owner's husband is recovering after being shot during the incident.

Forest Lake police responded to the restaurant, located at 816 Lake Street, at about 11:05 p.m. after a 911 call of a robbery in which gunshots were fired. It was the first shooting in Forest Lake in at least eight years.

Jorge Morales, whose wife owns the restaurant, was shot once in the abdomen and transported to Regions Hospital, where he is in stable condition with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. He is expected to be released from the hospital as early as Wednesday.

"Jorge has four kids. That's dangerous; he could have lost his life. Very scary," friend Brad Jackomino said. "It's families that come here. It's not just guys drinking beer."

Police said an undisclosed amount of money was taken from the restaurant.

The victim told police the suspect was described as a 19-year-old male with blonde hair about 8 inches long and wearing a white T-shirt.

Police said the victim was the only employee in the store at the time of the incident. There are cameras at Don Julio's, but it appears there may have been a glitch in the system, so officers are trying to retrieve that video.

Anyone with information should call the Forest Lake Police Department at (651) 464-5877 or contact Crimestoppers Minnesota.

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