A McDonald's employee in Lakeland, Florida, was arrested after allegedly firing gunshots at customers following a dispute at the drive-through window. Surveillance footage captured the incident, which has shocked the community and raised concerns about the safety of fast-food workers.
LAKELAND, Fla. — A McDonald's employee in Lakeland, Florida, has been arrested after she allegedly started shooting at customers following a dispute at the drive-through window.
McDonald's Employee Arrested for Shooting at Customers
The incident occurred on Monday evening at a McDonald's located at 1830 E. Memorial Blvd. According to police, a verbal altercation broke out between a customer and a McDonald's employee working the drive-through. The employee, identified as 22-year-old Valeria B. Jones, allegedly became agitated and retrieved a gun from the restaurant.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing Jones pointing a firearm at the customers. No one was injured during the incident.
McDonald's Employee Arrested for Shooting at Customers
Responding officers arrived at the scene and took Jones into custody without incident. She has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Investigators are still determining the motive behind the shooting but believe it may have stemmed from a personal grievance between Jones and the customers.
McDonald's Employee Arrested for Shooting at Customers
McDonald's has released a statement condemning the violence and expressing sympathy for those affected. The company said it is cooperating fully with the police investigation and has placed Jones on administrative leave.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of fast-food workers, who are often exposed to verbal and physical abuse from customers. McDonald's has been criticized in the past for its handling of employee safety issues, including incidents of violence at its restaurants.
McDonald's Employee Arrested for Shooting at Customers
Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said that the shooting was an isolated incident and that the McDonald's restaurant has a good safety record. He urged the public not to rush to judgment and to allow the investigation to run its course.
Jones is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on a $10,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a bond hearing.
