LANTANA, Fla. — Victims of a shooting on Tuesday at an Irish pub in Lake Worth Beach during the early morning hours, were all employees at the Old Key Lime House, the manager said.
Old Key Lime House owner Ryan Cordero told WPTV the restaurant was having a holiday party at Lilo's Streetfood & Bar and continued the night at The Rock Irish Pub in Lake Worth Beach.
"It was fantastic, a great time. Everybody's enjoying each other's company, and then when it was over, some of the group still wanted to have fun," Cordero told WPTV's Todd Wilson. "So, they walked to a bar down the street, played some pool and some evil monster came in and opened fire."
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said four men were shot at the pub, located in the 600 block of Lake Avenue, at around 1 a.m.
Two of the men died at the scene, while two others were taken to St. Mary's Medical Center. One of them is in critical condition and the other is in stable condition.
The identities of the four victims have not been released, however, Cordero shared more about the two men who died and the two men recovering in the hospital.
"One was a young, military veteran who perished and another was a barback who died," he told WPTV. "Our kitchen manager of 20 years, he's in the ICU. He was shot three times, twice in the back, once in the neck. One of our line cooks was shot twice, as well. They're both out of surgery and hopefully recovering."
Cordero said the employees at Old Key Lime House are like family.
WATCH: WPTV Todd Wilson's interview with Old Key Lime House owner Ryan Cordero
“These are family members. This is not just a restaurant, this is not just a business, this is a community, this is a family. We've always treated it as such," he told WPTV. “And we had two of our family members ripped from us last night after our holiday party with two more family members in the ICU and we don't know what's gonna happen to them.”
Collectively, employees are in shock and disbelief knowing that two members will not be returning to work.
"There's a tremendous loss for words. Your mind just goes blank. Why? What? How could this possibly happen? How? Who would do something like this?" he asked rhetorically. "It hurts a lot. It makes me angry. Somebody would be so villainous and such a despicable monster."
Lake Worth Beach
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: What witnesses saw after the shooting in Lake Worth Beach
Old Key Lime House is Florida's oldest waterfront restaurant, Cordero said. He said his family's restaurant heritage dates back to Key West in 1840, before the state was even incorporated and that they were the inventors of the key lime pie.
The employees are now comforting each other through this difficult time and just trying to stick together as family and move forward the best they can.
“Every family member that we've lost over the years, we have their picture on a wall and we move forward together," Cordero told WPTV. "That's what a family does— all for one and one for all.”
Anyone with information about this shooting is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477).
