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'McMayhem' breaks out at Florida McDonald's
A wild video out of a Lakeland fast food restaurant shows a McDonald’s employee grabbing a gun to confront customers.
LAKELAND, Fla. - A McDonald's employee was arrested last week in Lakeland after she started shooting at customers following a dispute at the drive-through window, according to police.
Chassidy Gardner, 22, of Lakeland, was booked into the Polk County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On June 14, at around 1 a.m., Lakeland police officers responded to a reported shooting at the fast-food restaurant located on East Memorial Boulevard.
Booking photo of Chassidy Gardner via Lakeland Police Department
An investigation revealed an altercation began at the drive-through window when the customers "felt their order was incorrect", the Lakeland Police Department said in a Facebook post.
Officers said Gardner got into an argument with the customers and was seen on surveillance video throwing a drink at them as they were leaving.
Chassidy Gardner, 22, of Lakeland, was booked into the Polk County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after she allegedly fired a gun at customers following a dispute in the drive-through line, police said. (Credit: Lakeland …
Two of the customers got out of the vehicle, opened the drive-through window and began throwing drinks at Gardner, who then armed herself with a gun, police said.
A different security camera appeared to show Gardner exiting the restaurant with her gun in hand.
Chassidy Gardner, 22, of Lakeland, was booked into the Polk County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after she allegedly fired a gun at customers following a dispute in the drive-through line, police said. (Credit: Lakeland …
While outside, officers said Gardner fired the weapon at the vehicle as it was leaving the area, striking the vehicle once.
"What’s becoming disturbing is us hearing more about these types of stories," Orlando Rolon, retired police chief of the Orlando Police Department said. "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 said this "McMix-up" likely just changed her life forever.
"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," Rolon said. "I’m shocked that she had a weapon of that sort in a place such as a McDonald's as an employee."
A McDonald’s employee handbook on the McDonald’s website did not address weapons inside restaurants. Previous reports state the company abides by the laws of the state or region where the restaurant is located.