Florida McDonald’s Shooting Incident
Two men in Florida caused a chaotic scene at a McDonald’s recently, turning what began as a late-night dispute into a serious incident involving a shooting.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared that the restaurant was particularly busy on the night of October 12, following various local events wrapping up early.
Yoan Soto, a 21-year-old employee at McDonald’s, was working the night shift when two customers—Peter Storey, 20, and Nicholas Jones, 18—pulled up to the drive-thru. They faced a longer-than-expected wait for their order.
Soto informed the duo, “I’m sorry, but we’re way behind… We’ve got too many online orders right now,” trying to explain the situation.
Unfortunately, the two customers did not take it well. Judd noted that they threatened physical violence towards Soto, stating things like, “We’re going to hang out here. If you get off, we’ll beat you up.”
In the heat of the argument, which escalated inside the restaurant over food availability, the manager of the McDonald’s asked Storey and Jones to leave, as they were considered trespassers.
Judd mentioned that threats were made about a potential “shooting spree,” raising the tension for everyone inside. Surveillance footage captured Soto emerging from the back with a firearm aimed at the unruly patrons, and Judd supported Soto’s actions as an act of self-defense.
Soto confronted the men, asserting his right to protect himself and trying to escort them out. However, as the situation intensified, Jones and Storey were seen attempting to grab Soto’s gun. In the struggle, Soto accidentally shot Storey in the neck.
Thankfully, the injuries were not life-threatening, as Jones drove Storey to a local hospital for treatment.
After the incident, Soto reportedly collected the shell casing and bullet, then fled the scene. Authorities later persuaded him to return and cooperate. However, he was charged with tampering with evidence, a felony.
Storey and Jones were charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct following their initial threats.
Sheriff Judd stressed that threatening a mass shooting or violence in a public business is unacceptable. He reiterated his support for Soto, stating he had every right to defend himself against the threats posed to him and the restaurant staff.
Judd ultimately labeled the situation as a significant disturbance, humorously dubbing it a “McCrime,” while affirming that they are committed to addressing such disturbances.
