LAKELAND, Fla. — Changes are coming to how Salem's Fresh Eats in Lakeland handles its late-night business following a fatal shooting in its parking lot on December 26.

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That night police shot and killed Michael Taylor, 17, while trying to arrest him in connection with the stolen car he was in at the time. Surveillance video from the parking lot shows Taylor driving towards an officer and officers firing at him in return.

One witness said the parking lot was full of people having a good time before the shooting. 

"People playing music. People getting them something to eat, everybody chilling up there," said Equjuanta Black.  "Chilling the scene. He was chilling. It was regular. It wasn't no fights, no arguments. Nobody wasn't starting nothing. Everybody was drinking having a good time.”

Since the shooting, the management at Salem's and the police department have come up with a plan to make the place safer. 

"They've agreed that at 2 o'clock they are going to close their restaurant," said Police Chief Larry Giddens. "They're going to hire police officers for security up there. They're going to turn it into a drive-thru at 2 o'clock that will not allow these crowds to gather there."

Giddens said there's been numerous issues at the location in the past that have led to arrests. 

"Several weeks ago we had a large fight that broke out there," Giddens explained. "Several people were arrested during that incident. Anytime you have that type of social unrest you're going to have an opportunity for people to get hurt and police officers to get hurt, and we're moving toward resolving that." 

According to the management, on December 28 and 29 the restaurant will close completely at 2 a.m. Starting in the New Year, only drive-thru service will be available from 2 to 4 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.