Two baristas beat down idiots allegedly trying to rob Starbucks with fake guns, and the company thanked them by firing them

Two baristas who beat up two men who allegedly tried to rob a Starbucks in Missouri were fired by the coffee chain for their heroic efforts.

St. Louis police said 37-year-old Joshua Noe and 35-year-old Marquise Porter-Doyle rushed into a Starbucks on Dec. 17 with what looked like real handguns and demanded the employees hand over cash in the register.

When the employee said he wasn't able to open the safe, Noe allegedly hit the employee in the head with his gun, but the gun shattered, and that's when the victims realized they had fake guns.

Two of the baristas and some of the customers beat down the two would-be robbers and held Noe until police arrived. Porter-Doyle was able to escape, but police caught up with him later and arrested him.

The two alleged robbers are facing a combined 20 felony charges for robbery, attempted robbery, and assault

Instead of thanking the two employees, the company fired them.

An attorney for the former barista Michael Harris says they are filing a lawsuit against Starbucks, according to the St. Louis Riverfront Times. The other fired barista was Devin Jones-Ransom.

"Michael and Devin were promptly fired by the company without any explanation as to what, if any policy they violated, or what they should have done differently about the situation," said attorney Ryan Krupp.

"Harris complied with the robbers' demands until it was no longer an option for himself and others," he explained.

Krupp says that Harris acted out of fear that he might be killed.

“I just wanted to do the right thing as a person and as an employee," said Harris in a statement.

A representative for Starbucks released a statement about the lawsuit.

"The safety and wellbeing of our partners (employees) and customers is always our first concern," the statement read. "All partners are expected to follow our carefully crafted protocols to ensure the safety of customers and partners during these situations."

Here's more about the incident:

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