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Fast Food Fury: Florida McDonald’s Employee Shoots at Enraged Customer

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In the early morning hours of a recent Friday, an unfortunate incident involving a McDonald’s employee and a customer occurred in Lakeland, Florida. According to the local police, a customer became angry over an error in their meal order, which escalated into a heated argument that eventually led to the employee allegedly firing a gun at the customer.

This all unfolded around 1 a.m. at a McDonald’s on East Memorial Drive in Lakeland. The Lakeland Police Department detailed the incident in a release on Monday. The situation seemed to spiral out of control when the customers attempted to leave, leading the worker to throw a drink at them.

The customers retaliated by forcing open the drive-thru window and began to fling cups onto the restaurant’s floor. The McDonald’s employee, a 22-year-old female, reappeared with a firearm and was then met with a drink thrown through the window by one of the customers.

“She then proceeded to confront the customers outside,” the police report stated. As the customers attempted to flee in their vehicle, the armed employee fired at the car, striking it at least once. This act was caught on the restaurant’s surveillance camera.

The altercation’s surveillance footage was later obtained and made public by WOFL-TV on its YouTube channel.

The involved McDonald’s worker, identified as 22-year-old Chassidy Gardner, was subsequently arrested. She was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Polk County Jail records indicate that Gardner was released on a $15,000 bond.

Retired Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon shared his thoughts with WOFL, expressing concern over the increasing frequency of such incidents.

“It’s unfortunate because once you fire that round, that round has no mercy. Wherever that round is going, whatever it strikes, it’s going to damage it or kill it,” Rolon stated. “It was totally uncalled-for and unjustified for her to pull the gun on a customer through the drive-through, regardless of what the situation was, unless there was a risk of great bodily harm that was going to be brought on to her, or there is a situation where someone was engaging in some activity that could result in bodily harm.”

He further expressed his surprise that the employee was armed while on duty at a family-friendly establishment. “I’m shocked that she had a weapon of that sort in a place such as a McDonald’s as an employee,” Rolon concluded.

Lakeland, the city where this unfortunate incident occurred, is home to roughly 120,000 residents and is situated approximately 35 miles from Tampa.


What are your thoughts regarding the use of firearms for self-defense in service-oriented jobs like fast food outlets, in light of the recent incident at a Florida McDonald's?

Watch a local news report about the incident below:

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11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Delphos Speaks

    July 7, 2024 at 11:18 am

    Employees should be trained in methods to de-escalate situations. To many times, it is the customer’s poor attitude about an order that creates tension. And the employees should do what they can to correct the order with a friendly smile. As they say, you can win the battle and lose the war. In the other hand, sometimes a customer is inebriated that late at night and cannot be dealt with. But the gun should not have been involved over a drink thrown through a window.

  2. Steve Carson

    July 7, 2024 at 11:19 am

    Clearly there is a need for anger management class.

  3. Dennis

    July 7, 2024 at 11:19 am

    She should be charge with murder. The victim had no weapon so she can’t pled self defense! She had no legal right to have of shoot anything. If she get anything less you can tell the democrats some people are above the law. If she had been white she would be still setting in jail or have a much higher bail
    Murder is murder and no one is above murder!!!

  4. Pena

    July 7, 2024 at 3:01 pm

    She was never in danger. Emotions and tempers out of control but doesn’t justify the use of a weapon. The customers were driving away when shot.

  5. Beartoe

    July 7, 2024 at 4:38 pm

    Old Proverb……. You can take the monkey outta the jungle but you never take the jungle outta the monkey

  6. Marla Summers

    July 7, 2024 at 7:50 pm

    Well I guess she is Mcfired now! Uncalled for.

  7. Robert Schrader

    July 7, 2024 at 9:42 pm

    John Q public is the dumbest animal out there.What was the sobriety of the occupants of the vehicle in the drive thru,also where any of occupants charged with anything like assault, battery,or malicious mischief??????

  8. Kirk Ellsworth

    July 7, 2024 at 9:45 pm

    Retired Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon never heard of the robbery/mass murder at a Brown’s chicken in Palatine, Illinois on January 8, 1993? My roommate had worked there, but I had gotten her a job at a Denny’s a few days before that happened. If they had been armed there’s a good chance they’d still be alive.

  9. Leola Clarry

    July 7, 2024 at 11:35 pm

    She didn’t know if the person had a gun or not so she did what anyone would do, she could have been hurt.

  10. Leola Clarry

    July 7, 2024 at 11:45 pm

    I have seen where people were hurt by someone using a gun some were killed and still nothing is being done about it. that person is still walking the streets, and this person was taken to court for what she did. Not Right.

  11. David Campbell

    July 9, 2024 at 10:22 pm

    Don’t know why the retired police cheif is surprised that an employee that works late into the night is armed; seems prudent to me. It is unfortunate that people get so out of control over a fast food order. Anyway, the shooting was not justified, the threat to the worker never escalated to the level of justifying lethal force. Now if the customer had actually forced his way through the window and started to enter the workspace, the employee, being a woman, might then have been justified.
    P.S. I did not vote in the pole as the questions don’t seem to match the situation.

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Preparedness

German Activist Fined After Surviving Brutal Attack at Rally

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In a striking turn of events, a German activist known for his vocal criticism of political Islam has been fined by a regional court, following an attack on him earlier this year. Michael Stürzenberger, an activist with the Citizens’ Movement, Pax Europa, was among those injured during a stabbing spree by an Afghan migrant at an anti-jihad rally in Mannheim on May 31. The violent incident left him with severe injuries, including a stab wound to the thigh and a “gaping open wound” on his face.

Despite these traumatic events, Stürzenberger found himself facing legal repercussions for statements made at a rally in 2020. The Hamburg District Court had initially sentenced him to six months in prison for incitement, a decision that he appealed. Although the sentence was later suspended, the court ultimately upheld the conviction, imposing a fine of $3,804.65.

The charges against Stürzenberger stemmed from his comments on German immigration policy and his critique of political Islam. At the rally, he had pointed out that Muslim migrants from certain regions were disproportionately involved in crimes, and emphasized the need to address the influence of political Islam on women’s rights.

Stürzenberger clarified his stance, stating, “I have always spoken about political Islam. Always said: It is not against Muslims!” He further explained, “My criticism is only directed against the dangerous components of the ideology and those radicals who commit acts of violence as a result of it.”

The activist’s conviction is part of a broader trend in Germany, where individuals have faced legal consequences for expressing concerns about the impacts of mass immigration. This has been a contentious issue, especially as reports indicate a rise in violent crimes linked to immigrant populations.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently acknowledged challenges associated with young men of migrant backgrounds, who are often involved in acts of violence. She emphasized the need for effective education and integration programs to address these issues.

The situation has further highlighted safety concerns in German cities, with certain areas becoming increasingly unsafe for minorities. Berlin’s chief of police, Barbara Slowik, advised caution for individuals in specific neighborhoods, particularly those with significant Arab populations.

These developments underscore the complexities and tensions surrounding immigration and integration in Germany. As the country grapples with these issues, the case of Michael Stürzenberger serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between free expression and the need to address hate speech.


How should countries balance personal safety, free speech, and legal rights in cases involving criticism of religious or political groups?

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Preparedness

Clerk’s Quick Reaction Sparks Debate on Self-Defense Rights

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In a recent incident that has sparked considerable debate, a New Orleans convenience store clerk fatally shot a 16-year-old armed robber during an attempted robbery. The event unfolded when two armed individuals entered the store, demanding cash. Surveillance footage captured 16-year-old Cecil Batiz pointing a gun with an extended magazine at the clerk working at the cell phone counter of Sam’s Meat Market.

As the situation escalated, Batiz was seen stuffing cash and other items into his pockets. The other suspect, 18-year-old Teony Juarez, was wearing a black ski mask. As the suspects attempted to leave the store, the clerk retrieved a firearm and discharged it, striking Batiz in the abdomen, causing him to collapse. The surveillance video further showed the clerk stepping out of camera view, only to return moments later and fire additional shots at Batiz as he lay on the store floor. Batiz succumbed to his injuries later at a hospital.

Juarez, in the midst of the chaos, returned fire and sustained an injury to his right forearm while fleeing the scene. An unidentified woman transported Juarez to a hospital, where he was treated and subsequently arrested. Juarez faces multiple charges, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, and illegal use of a weapon, with his bond set at $170,000.

The store clerk has not been charged, and Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino expressed skepticism about the likelihood of charges being filed.
“That clerk was in an obviously high-stress situation and saw the perpetrator still moving with a gun, and it’s hard to second-guess his decision to use deadly force yet again.”

Ciolino also clarified that under Louisiana law, Juarez cannot be charged for Batiz’s death, as the fatal act was committed by the victim, not a co-felon.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams refrained from delving into case specifics but remarked,
“Once somebody puts a gun in your face, the rules change.”
He further noted,
“It’s painfully obvious to anyone who saw that video what those two people were doing in that store, and that shop owner did not ask for that exchange.”

Williams, who was elected in December 2020 with support from a PAC funded by George Soros, has recently undergone a shift in perspective regarding crime and punishment. This change came after a personal experience where he and his 78-year-old mother were victims of a carjacking. Following the incident, Williams recused himself from the carjacking case and acknowledged a transformation in his views, even reversing some of his previous campaign promises.


Should store clerks have the right to use a firearm in self-defense if threatened with a gun during a robbery?

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Preparedness

Daring Homeowner Defends Home Against Burglar, Ignites Wild Police Chase

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In a dramatic sequence of events in Sacramento, California, a homeowner took action against a suspected burglar, setting off a chain of incidents that culminated in a high-speed police chase. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office reported the initial burglary attempt occurred around 3 p.m. on Chandler Drive in south Sacramento.

Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department, described the suspect as a “lifelong criminal” with a history spanning over two decades. “Theft charges, gun charges, drug charges — you name it, he’s got everything under the sun,” Gandhi remarked, highlighting the suspect’s extensive criminal past.

The alleged thief, identified as 40-year-old Emelio Correa, attempted to force his way into a home. Despite the family’s efforts to deter him by shouting for him to leave, Correa persisted. Authorities revealed that the homeowner, a legal gun owner, fired at least one shot, striking Correa in the hand. Blood evidence was reportedly left at the scene.

The confrontation left a visible mark, with police investigating a front-entrance window that bore a large bullet hole. However, the incident did not end there.

Correa managed to enter a different residence shortly after. The owner of this second home, Cuong Nguyen, explained that the suspect gained access because the front door had been inadvertently left unlocked. Once inside, Correa found keys on a truck’s front seat in the garage.

Nguyen, who was not present during the break-in, recounted how Correa drove the truck through the garage door, leaving half of it “in the middle of the street” upon Nguyen’s return. This theft led to a high-speed pursuit on Highway 99.

The chase concluded when Correa encountered spike strips near Arno Road, causing the truck to roll into a ditch. He was subsequently taken into custody.

Correa suffered minor injuries and is currently held in Sacramento County jail on a $100,000 bond. He faces four felony charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

The incident underscores the importance of home security and the unpredictable nature of criminal activity, as even a brief lapse in vigilance can lead to significant consequences.


Should homeowners have the right to use firearms to defend their property against suspected burglars?

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