Zabayullah Qahir, 28, of Dunbarton

MANCHESTER – A man from the town of Dunbarton has been charged with first-degree assault with a deadly weapon in the aftermath of an argument that turned physical, then escalated to a shooting, according to reports.

Arrested at police headquarters was Zabayullah Qahir, 28, who allegedly fired three or four shots at a former employee of the USA Chicken & Biscuit restaurant at 990 Elm St., near the corner of Elm and Mechanic streets in downtown Manchester.

Various witnesses reported seeing a man, later identified as Qahir, who works at the restaurant, arrive and begin arguing with a tall, thin man, apparently over things the man said to Qahir’s sister, who also works at the restaurant, which their father owns.

The tall man, who is the alleged victim, had worked there as well but had recently been fired, according to reports.

The man went to the restaurant, reportedly to pick up his final paycheck, when Qahir showed up and confronted him, witnesses said.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Close to a dozen police cruisers line Elm Street near Mechanic Street as officers arrive at the scene of a shooting Monday evening outside the USA Chicken & Biscuit restaurant, seen at left. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

At one point, Qahir entered the restaurant, and moments later allegedly emerged with a handgun, according to police and witness statements.

One news report quoted an employee of the delivery service Door Dash, who was in the restaurant at the time, as saying he tried to stop Qahir from allegedly going after the other man with the gun.

Qahir told the employee to get out of his way, according to the report, then walked outside. Moments later, witnesses said, several gunshots were heard.

Numerous police vehicles soon lined Elm and Mechanic streets as patrol officers and detectives began to interview witnesses and collect evidence.

The alleged victim was rushed to the Elliot Hospital by AMR ambulance personnel for treatment of what officials described as life-threatening injuries.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Numerous police officers work at the scene of the Monday night shooting outside USA Chicken & Biscuit at the corner of Elm and Mechanic streets. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

Qahir, at his arraignment Tuesday in Hillsborough County Superior Court North, entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.

Judge David Anderson ordered him held on preventive detention as the case proceeds.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A Manchester police officer ties crime scene tape to a tree near the corner of Elm and Mechanic streets, to cordon off the area just behind him, where a man was shot during an argument Mnday evening. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)