Authorities are describing a shooting at a Florida McDonald’s involving an employee and customers as a total “McMess.”
According to a video release issued by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Friday, Oct. 17, the confrontation began when 21-year-old Yoan Soto was working an overnight shift at a Davenport McDonald’s when two late-night customers were dissatisfied with their wait time in the drive-through line.
The incident occurred about 3 a.m. on October 12.
Judd stated that the establishment can become “overwhelmed” with online orders at times, and that the staff was “doing their best to keep up with these orders,” when Peter Story, 19, and Nicholas Jones, 18, reportedly came at the eatery.
Soto apologized to the couple for being “way behind,” Judd claimed, adding that McDonald’s “should think through” how their system works.
Despite his apology, the two allegedly began “threatening” Soto, warning the employee they would wait for his shift to end before physically harming him, according to the Polk County sheriff.
“They threatened to attack the man who just told them, ‘We’re busy, we can’t take anymore orders,’ and he did that because the manager told him to,” claimed Judd.
According to the sheriff, Soto refused to back down and instead informed Story and Jones that his shift ended at 4 a.m.
Video surveillance shared by PCSO and obtained by Fox 13 showed Jones and Story arguing with Soto in the McDonald’s lobby after the two entered the property, as well as Soto pointing a firearm at them after they “continued to threaten” him with a “switch” and a “30-clip.”
“Now, the 22-year-old manager steps between them trying to stop this kerfuffle from occurring because there’s a rattle afoot right now in McDonald’s, we can call it a ‘McRattle,’ and that’s not a sandwich,” stated the Sheriff of the county.
In the footage, Judd alleges Soto acted in self-defense. “And as they try to grab his gun, [Soto] pulls the trigger, and he shoots Peter Story in the neck,” Judd added, citing video surveillance footage that supposedly showed the two men battling for custody of the firearm.
“It’s a godsend that the wound was so mild, but you know what? When you start shooting McGuns, you grab people’s attention,” Judd explained.
The sheriff stated that after Story and Jones allegedly fled the scene due to Story’s injury, Soto became “McScared,” picked up the shell casings, and fled as well.
Soto was accused with tampering with evidence, a felony. Jones and Story were charged with trespass after a warning and unruly conduct.
PEOPLE has reached out to McDonald’s and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Judd warned against mass shootings and violence, and urged anyone in a scenario like Soto’s not to “run after a shooting.”
“He has a right to stand his ground and protect himself, and these guys are threatening to do violence after they’ve already threatened on the outside of the store and came inside,” Judd said in a press conference. “They instilled fear in both him and the store manager.” It was only a McMess, but we’ll figure it out since we’re McGood at investigating McCrime.”
