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A McDonald’s employee in Florida was recently arrested after allegedly shooting at customers.
According to Fox 35 Orlando, 22-year-old Chassidy Gardner was recently booked into Polk County Jail. She has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The outlet adds that on Friday, June 14, Gardner had gotten into an altercation with drive-thru customers while working her shift at the fast food restaurant.
The Lakeland Police Department reported via Facebook that the “dispute began… when the customers/Victims felt their order was incorrect.”
In turn, Gardner allegedly started arguing with the customers. Then, as they attempted to leave the window, Gardner allegedly threw a drink at the patrons.
“Two of the customers got out of their vehicle and opened the drive-through window to throw drinks at Gardner who then armed herself with a handgun,” the police department’s Facebook post adds.
At that point, the customers reportedly drove to another location in the parking lot when Gardner exited the store. The McDonald’s worker was reportedly armed with her weapon and allegedly fired her gun at the customer’s vehicle, which was reportedly “struck at least once.”
“The customers drove around the west side of the business and Gardner walked outside the business with her gun to argue further. While still outside, Gardner fired her weapon as the vehicle was leaving the parking lot and the Victim’s vehicle was struck at least once. Gardner was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon,” the post concludes.
According to a June 18 report from NBC 6 South Florida, it was unclear whether anyone was injured in the shooting.
According to Law & Crime, Gardner was released from Polk County Jail on a $15,000 bond on Saturday, June 15. The outlet added that it remained unclear whether she has retained an attorney.
Meanwhile, the fast food location’s franchisee, Lanny Sumpter, has released a statement on the matter.
“The safety and wellbeing of my customers and crew is paramount to me as a business owner, and I am shocked and disturbed by the actions of this employee,” Sumpter shared. “Violence of any kind is never tolerated in my organization, and the employee has been terminated following a number of organizational policy violations. We will continue to work with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.”
The harrowing incident in Florida occurred about six months after The Shade Room spoke exclusively with various fast-food employees about the dangers of working in the business. Unlike Gardner, the employees largely detailed how they have been the target of dangerous attacks.
In January, The Shade Room’s Justin Carter spoke with a former KFC manager named Denita Roseborough, who detailed why she decided to defend her crew in a now-viral video of them being pranked.
Additionally, Carter sat down with Waffle House employee Halie Booth, who went viral for her super-strength after she deflected a metal chair during an all-out brawl.
Check out the episode of ‘TSR Investigates’ below.
