ATLANTA -- Several hundred southeast Atlanta residents held a protest Thursday after the murder of a restaurant employee.

The protest was held in front of Standard Food and Spirits on Memorial Drive, where John Henderson, 27, was shot during a robbery Wednesday morning. Henderson died a few hours later at Grady Hospital.

Organizers of the protest said they are protesting the city of Atlanta's cutbacks in the police department.

According to investigators, four men threw a brick through the front of the restaurant.

Police said one of the men forced Henderson and a female worker into a back office to get money.

When Henderson handed over the money, investigators said, the gunman shot him in the head and legs. Henderson died at about 7 a.m. at Grady Hospital.

"It's my understanding the victim did comply with all of the suspects' demands, and the suspects shot him anyway," said Atlanta Police Lt. Keith Meadows.

"We'd go and play putt-putt. The boy liked to camp. We went camping right before Thanksgiving. Cooked over a fire. It was great," said Henderson's best friend Mathew Fatland.

Beer truck driver Jared Backus was sad to hear the news, but not surprised.

He's been robbed twice on the job, once at gunpoint.

"Two guys came up and pulled out guns and said give me everything you've got,” said Backus.

"Everybody knows John John. And everybody that knows him loves him. And it's going to be a lot to deal with for a lot of people in the next few days," said Fatland.

According to investigators, the female worker, who was not identified, was able to hide in a cabinet when the robbers weren't watching.

Atlanta police said there were no other witnesses and no one saw the robbers leave.

A memorial fund has been established for Henderson. You can donate online at www.grantpark.org and follow the link to make a donation via credit card or by mail to the Grant Park Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 89235, Atlanta, GA 30312 to make a donation via check.