A confrontation at a McDonald’s in Davenport, Florida, escalated into a shooting incident Sunday morning, leaving one customer injured. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the altercation began when Peter Story and Nicholas Jones grew frustrated after being denied service at the drive-thru due to high volume at the restaurant.
As tensions rose, Story and Jones reportedly threatened Yoan Soto, a McDonald’s employee, asserting they would wait in the parking lot for Soto’s shift to conclude. The situation intensified when the two men entered the restaurant and confronted Soto again, leading to the involvement of the store manager to separate the parties.
During this physical altercation, Judd stated that one of the men indicated he had a “switch” and a “30-clip,” which prompted Soto to retrieve a firearm from the back of the store. Surveillance footage captured Soto advancing towards Jones, pushing him before focusing on Story, which led to a struggle and the weapon discharging.
Authorities reported that Story was shot in the neck, although the injury is not life-threatening and he is expected to recover fully. After the shooting, Soto allegedly collected the spent shell casing from the ground and claimed ownership of it to another employee.
In the wake of the incident, Soto has been charged with tampering with physical evidence, while Jones and Story face charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing, and remaining unlawfully after being warned to leave. The individuals involved are in their late teens and early twenties.
Sheriff Judd emphasized that Soto was justified in defending himself due to the threatening behavior of Story and Jones, remarking on the need for the investigation while quipping about the circumstances of the case, referring to it as a “McMess.” Despite the chaos, the situation serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and the severe consequences that can arise from escalating disputes.