40-year-old man died after the 23-year-old employee at a restaurant he was yelling obscenities at pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest; employee arrested
Florida – In a chilling case of escalating violence in Florida, a 40-year-old man, identified as W. Robertson, was shot to death by a fast food employee after a heated argument over a food order. Authorities say the shooter, 23-year-old man identified as E. Mackey, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder for killing Robertson, who was fatally shot in the chest outside a restaurant.
The fatal incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Wednesday at the local restaurant. The sheriff’s office said Mackey, an employee at the restaurant, engaged in a verbal dispute with Robertson that turned deadly in mere moments. According to witnesses and court records, the altercation began after Robertson discovered his order was missing mayonnaise packets. He reportedly became upset and began asking to speak with a manager, directing his complaints at a female employee before Mackey entered the situation.
Witnesses told investigators that Robertson appeared increasingly frustrated and used profanity toward staff, reportedly calling Mackey a “p—y” or a “b—.” In response, Mackey allegedly replied, “Oh I am a p—y?,” then pulled out a gun and shot Robertson once in the chest. Surveillance video reviewed by law enforcement showed Mackey climbing out of the drive-thru window before walking around to the front of the restaurant and confronting Robertson directly. Moments later, Robertson collapsed to the ground.
Emergency crews responded swiftly and transported the victim to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, Robertson was pronounced dead soon after arrival. Authorities later tracked Mackey down to a nearby hotel where he was found hiding beneath a stairwell. He reportedly asked officers, “Is dude OK?” and informed them he still had the firearm in his possession. Before fleeing the scene, Mackey briefly returned to the restaurant to retrieve his backpack, the arrest affidavit noted.
Mackey was arrested the following day and booked into the county jail. During a bond hearing on Friday, a judge denied bail. He remains in custody without bond and has been appointed a defense attorney. In the aftermath of the shooting, the restaurant was temporarily closed. A sign placed in the window informed customers that operations were suspended. Onlookers and neighboring business owners expressed shock and dismay over the fatal escalation of a seemingly minor dispute.
A spokesperson for the restaurant expressed condolences to Robertson’s family and distanced the company from the employee’s actions. “We are shocked and saddened by the incident that occurred last night at our restaurant in Florida,” the company said in a statement. “The actions of this one employee do not reflect the values of the thousands of our hardworking employees across the country.” Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Mackey’s next court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
