"Pita Stop Owner Cleared of Charges in Fatal Shooting of Restaurant Patron"

The owner of Pita Stop, a restaurant in Birmingham, will not face charges in the shooting death of a patron following a dispute over payment. The grand jury did not indict Mohammad “Matt” Islam, the owner, after he detailed a confrontation with the patron, Ricardo Tafoya Garcia, who allegedly assaulted him. Islam, who feared for the safety of his employees and customers, shot Garcia three times in self-defense. The incident, which occurred in December 2023, has left Islam deeply affected and the restaurant has since reopened.