Police: Florida McDonald's Worker Shoots At Customer

LAKELAND, Florida - A McDonald's employee was arrested for shooting at a customer after a dispute over a drink order escalated in Lakeland, Florida. 

On June 14, 2024, around 1:00 a.m.,  Lakeland police officers responded to a shooting which occurred at McDonald’s, in the 700 block of East Memorial Boulevard.  

Both parties were on-scene when officers arrived.  

Police say the dispute began in the drive through when the customers felt their order was incorrect.  

The employee, Chassidy Gardner, 22, argued with the customers at the drive through window.  

Gardner allegedly threw a drink at the customers as they were attempting to leave.  

  

Two of the customers got out of their vehicle and opened the drive-thru window to throw drinks at Gardner who then armed herself with a handgun.

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 customer's vehicle was struck at least once.  

Gardner was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Chassidy Gardner. Credit: Polk County Jail