Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, March 11, two workers were shot while leaving their jobs at Adair Kitchen , which is located at 5161 San Felipe.
According to the police report, the victims, 31-year-old Estela Renteria, a cook, and 20-year-old Jose Isabel-Amador Vasquez, a dishwasher, were approached by two men with pistols as they were getting into their vehicle to leave. The men robbed and then shot the two victims before fleeing on foot.
Vasquez was grazed by a bullet, but Renteria was shot in the head and remains in the hospital in critical condition. She is expected to survive.
The police have released composite sketches of the two suspects and are asking anyone with information to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Both men are described as African Americans in their early 20s, each about five feet six inches tall.
On Thursday, the owners of Adair Kitchen, siblings Nick Adair and Katie Barnhart, posted a message on the Adair Kitchen Facebook page thanking friends and customers for their outpouring of support following the shooting.
"Thanks to all of our extended Adair Kitchen family for the thoughts and love," the message reads. "The outpouring of support and desire to help has been truly remarkable. In an effort to aid Estela's family in her recovery, the following fund has been created. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
The post links to a Give Forward fundraising site to help Renteria's family. The goal of $500 has already been surpassed.
This incident has led locals to wonder about the Uptown Park/Galleria area, generally considered a safe neighborhood. It's also led to concerns about the safety of restaurant employees when they leave their jobs late at night. Mainly, though, neighbors and fans of the restaurant are saddened and shocked that something like this could happen there.
The restaurant, which makes some of our favorite chicken and waffles in town, is open.