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In an alarming incident at a McDonald’s in Polk County, Florida, a confrontation between a fast-food employee and two customers escalated into gunfire. Local law enforcement has referred to the altercation as a “McMess.” Fortunately, one of the men sustained only a minor gunshot wound.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the situation escalated after the restaurant experienced an influx of online orders due to several local events. When 21-year-old Yoan Soto, the employee involved, informed customers Nicholas Jones, 18, and Peter Story, 20, that they could not place their order due to the backlog, tensions increased significantly.
Details of the confrontation
After Soto explained the situation, the two men allegedly began to verbally threaten him, declaring, “We’re going to hang out here. When you get off, we are going to beat you up.” Their threats were directed at an employee simply trying to manage a challenging workload.
Escalation inside the restaurant
Following their initial threats, Jones and Story parked their vehicle and entered the McDonald’s, where they continued their aggressive behavior. Sheriff Judd humorously labeled this a “McArgument” regarding the restaurant’s service limitations. During the confrontation, one of the men mentioned having a “switch” and a “30-clip,” implying they were armed, to which Soto replied that he also had a firearm.
The situation intensified when the restaurant manager intervened, placing himself between Soto and the aggressive customers. Despite being asked to leave due to their disruptive behavior, Jones insisted that only law enforcement could declare them trespassers, a claim Sheriff Judd later clarified as incorrect.
The shooting incident
During the chaotic exchange, as Jones and Story attempted to seize Soto’s firearm, a shot was fired, striking Story in the neck. Sheriff Judd noted the fortunate nature of the injury, stating, “It’s a blessing that it was a very minor wound.” He added that such actions would certainly attract attention and result in their removal from the restaurant.
Aftermath and legal consequences
Following the shooting, Jones transported Story to the hospital and contacted the authorities. Soto fled the scene but later returned when law enforcement arrived and cooperated with investigators. He was charged with felony tampering with evidence.
Both Jones and Story faced charges for trespassing after being warned and for their disorderly conduct during the incident. Sheriff Judd emphasized the seriousness of such threats, stating, “It’s never OK to threaten a mass shooting or to assault someone in a business environment.” He noted that Soto had the right to defend himself against the threats posed by the two men.
In remarks about the incident, Sheriff Judd expressed disbelief at the absurdity of the situation, referring to it as a “McMess” requiring thorough investigation. “We’re McGood at investigating McCrime,” he quipped, highlighting the unusual circumstances that led to the confrontation.
