COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ)—The manager of a Howard County Taco Bell struggles to stay alive after a shooting outside his restaurant early Sunday morning.

Derek Valcourt has more on the violent attack.

Monday night that manager remains in critical condition at Shock Trauma as police investigate exactly how he got there.

The attack on a Columbia Taco Bell manager has customers praying.

“I hope he lives,” one woman said.

It was just before 1 a.m. Sunday when two armed men opened fire on the Taco Bell manager in the parking lot.

Shot multiple times, he somehow made it back inside the restaurant, where two other employees called 911. He was later flown to Shock Trauma.

“It’s horrible that things like that go through, that people are capable of doing that,” said Katie Meyer.

There are several conflicting stories about what led up to the shooting.

Surveillance cameras on the side of the Taco Bell and on nearby businesses may provide investigators clues to sort it all out.

Friends of the victim and all of the Taco Bell employees refuse to talk about what happened here.  Police are offering up very few details.

“It makes me sad because we come up to this Taco Bell all the time, and they’re very nice,” said Tonya Williams.

Sky Eye Chopper 13 shows the Taco Bell tucked into a shopping plaza near several other businesses located right along Snowden River Parkway.

“It’s too scary over here. I almost never come over here. I stay over in Ellicott City,” said Tom Rainville.

Though Howard County’s crime rate remains low, this latest unsolved attack has some questioning their safety.

“It’s scary. You come over here for lunch today. Are they still hanging around? Are they looking for money? You know? You don’t know. It’s very scary,” said Chris Pearson.

Howard County Police did not give a description of the suspects.

There is no mention of these gunmen trying to steal anything. In fact, police say the motive for the attack is unknown.

Police are not releasing the victim’s name.