Florida McDonald’s Worker Pulls Gun on Angry Customers Who Threatened to “Beat His A—” Over Long Wait, Police Say
DAVENPORT, FLORIDA — A McDonald’s employee working the overnight shift allegedly pulled a gun on two angry customers who threatened to “beat his a—” after waiting too long for food, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The late-night confrontation on October 12 quickly escalated from a verbal dispute in the drive-thru to a physical altercation inside the restaurant, ending with one of the customers being shot in the neck.
Drive-Thru Argument Turns Violent
Authorities say Yoan Soto, 21, was working the drive-thru when Peter Story, 19, and Nicholas Jones, 18, pulled up demanding food after the location had already stopped taking orders.
According to an affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, the customers became “argumentative” over the intercom, threatening to beat Soto and claiming they were armed. Soto allegedly responded that he had a gun too.
Moments later, Story and Jones entered the McDonald’s lobby, continuing the confrontation face-to-face. Sheriff Judd described the scene as,
“They’re having a McArgument at McDonald’s over McHamburgers. Or lack of McHamburgers.”
“They Were Threatening to McShoot Up the Place”
Inside the restaurant, Soto’s manager told investigators the two men referenced firearms, mentioning a “30 clip” and “switches.”
“They were threatening to McShoot up the place,” Sheriff Judd said in a statement posted to Facebook.
When Soto’s manager ordered them to leave, the men allegedly refused, saying only law enforcement could remove them.
Gun Discharges During Struggle
Surveillance video reportedly shows Soto retrieving a handgun from the employee break room and returning to the lobby to escort the men out.
During the struggle, the gun accidentally discharged, hitting Story in the neck. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Story and Jones fled the scene, driving themselves to a nearby hospital.
Afterward, Soto allegedly picked up the spent shell casing, telling another employee it “belonged to him,” which investigators later said constituted evidence tampering.
Charges Filed Against All Three Men
Sheriff Judd said that while Soto had the right to defend himself, tampering with evidence was not justified.
“It’s never okay to threaten a mass shooting. It’s never okay to threaten to beat people up at a business,” Judd said. “And it’s never okay to grab your ammunition and your firearm and run after a shooting.”
Soto was arrested October 14 and charged with tampering with evidence. He posted bond and was released pending a November 18 arraignment.
Meanwhile, Story and Jones were both charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. They also posted bond and are scheduled to appear in court later this month.
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