COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — A Waffle House waitress who lost her job after shooting at three alleged robbers says she has landed on her feet.
“Some good has come of it. I’m happy for everything that’s happened,” said Heather Burkinshaw Stanley.
In December 2016, Stanley fired her gun at three alleged robbers. Afterward, she was fired for her actions.
When asked if she would do anything differently, she said, “No, I wouldn’t. I would do it again.”
Stanley was working the overnight shift when it happened. She was one month shy of having spent two years on that shift with the restaurant.
When Stanley was let go, changes came.
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“I was out of work for about a month and a half,” she explained.
Support for her was mixed, but meaningful.
A GoFundMe account was started to get her and her family through the tough time. It raised more than triple her goal of $2,500.
“It overexceeded that, and I was in shock and in dismay about how much it went to!” Stanley said.
A local gun range also offered Stanley a gun safety class, which she said worked as a great refresher course.
“I learned to hold the gun and position myself a little bit better than I normally would,” she said.
But the most noteworthy result of being fired? Getting to spend more time with her kids.
That continues now with a day shift job at Dunkin’ Donuts in Fairburn. Stanley say, “They’re happy Momma is home at night and able to cook for them and able to play video games with them and help them with their homework.”
Her new employer is also very aware of her past and is accepting of it. Stanley said she is sticking with the positive comments and blocking out the many negative ones she received.