Name: Man who refused to wear mask in Utah clothing store threatened to come back with a gun
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Man who refused to wear mask in Utah clothing store threatened to come back with a gun

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SHAREA Salt Lake City business closed its doors early on Sunday after a patron refused to wear a mask and threatened to return with a gun after he was asked to leave.“I didn’t take it too seriously at first ... it’s such a crazy thing to say to someone,” said The employee Josh Edgar. “But then after a minute I thought, ‘Wait, maybe he’s being serious.’”The man had gone into the specialty clothing store, located at 875 E. 900 South in Salt Lake’s popular 9th and 9th neighborhood, without wearing a mask. When Edgar noticed, he asked the man to put on a mask.“He immediately started yelling and swearing at us,” Edgar said. He said the man told him, “This is my country, I don’t have to wear a mask.”“He immediately exploded with rage and fury,” said Jack Carrasco, another employee who witnessed the interaction while he was bagging goods for another customer. “Everybody had their eyes on the situation and everybody was extremely uncomfortable.”Edgar ultimately asked the man to leave the store. When the man left, he told Edgar, “I’m going to get my gun and come back and shoot you all.”“It was a bit off-putting, I’m still a bit on edge,” Carrasco said.Salt Lake police have been informed about the threat.Neither of the employees had ever before experienced such disdain from a customer regarding their requirement to wear a mask while shopping. When other customers have come in without a face covering and been asked to use one, they’ve either pleasantly obliged or acted a little annoyed, but still followed the rules.Stockist owner Helen Wade, who wasn’t at the store when the alleged altercation occurred, said the situation surrounding the ongoing pandemic, along with social and civil unrest in the past year, has been difficult enough for businesses to navigate. Aside from hiring private security, which is likely too costly for her, she said she worries about what to do for the safety of her employees and patrons at the store.On Monday, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson visited Stockist to show her support to the business and said she purchased a “cute pair of earrings” while there.“Stopped by The Stockist to express my support for the store’s owner and her employees. Businesses have every right to protect workers and customers by requiring masks. It’s a small ask to expect people to be respectful and kind. FYI, SLC still has mask mandate,” Henderson posted on Twitter.Stopped by The Stockist to express my support for the store’s owner and her employees. Businesses have every right to protect workers and customers by requiring masks. It’s a small ask to expect people to be respectful and kind. FYI, SLC still has mask mandate. — Deidre Henderson 🇺🇦 (@DeidreHenderson)Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall extended the city’s mask mandate past Saturday’s expiration of the statewide mandate, which Wade said is helpful. Businesses around the state are also able to enact mask requirements as they see fit.“It gives us one foot to stand on,” she said, adding that it wasn’t just the store imposing the requirement, but, “everywhere you go, you have to wear a mask.”Having state and local government backing was comforting to the store owner.“Unfortunately, today this person decided they could do what they want and say what they want and treat us horribly,” Wade said. She hopes her employees are able to process what happened and not carry too much anxiety into the coming days and weeks.“It’s definitely something we have to worry about,” Carrasco said.Contributing: Amy DonaldsonNext Up InA university spokesman said the students will also be referred to the Dean of Students for “potential noncriminal sanctions.”BYU drops ban on fan, says investigators scrutinized video and audio and reached out to 50 eyewitnesses, including Duke players and athletic department personnelUtah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney has remained neutral in the race between Lee and independent candidate Evan McMullin.Cougars held off No. 9 Baylor 26-20 in double overtime at LaVell Edwards Stadium after missing two field goals that would have won the game in regulation and the first overtime.In double overtime win over the Bears, the Cougars made a lasting impression.

SHAREA Salt Lake City business closed its doors early on Sunday after a patron refused to wear a mask and threatened to return with a gun after he was asked to leave.“I didn’t take it too seriously at first ... it’s such a crazy thing to say to someone,” said The employee Josh Edgar. “But then after a minute I thought, ‘Wait, maybe he’s being serious.’”The man had gone into the specialty clothing store, located at 875 E. 900 South in Salt Lake’s popular 9th and 9th neighborhood, without wearing a mask. When Edgar noticed, he asked the man to put on a mask.“He immediately started yelling and...

Man who refused to wear mask in Utah clothing store threatened to come back with a gun

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