Taco Bell Employee Shoots at Customers After One Fills Water Cup with Soda

A Taco Bell employee has been arrested on aggravated assault charges after allegedly firing a gun at three customers in Florida, according to a new report.

On Monday, April 27, 20-year-old D’Mari Jy’Quan Patterson was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm in West Palm Beach, Florida, court documents obtained by People stated.

The incident allegedly began when two customers entered the fast food establishment and requested a cup of water from Patterson. One of the customers then proceeded to fill up the cup at the soda fountain, which led to a verbal altercation between Patterson and the two customers.

During the argument, a third customer walked in. The dispute allegedly “escalated,” per the outlet, and Patterson yelled, “Do something! Do something! Do something!” at the initial two customers.

Another Taco Bell worker then intervened, removing Patterson away from the customers and urged them to leave. That’s when, according to the affidavit, “the sound of the slide of a firearm being racked is clearly audible.”

Patterson then fired a single gunshot, striking one of the victims. A second victim fell to the floor due to “pistol-whipping.”

Patterson then followed the customer he had physically hit. The third customer then got trapped “between the door and an exterior restaurant wall” while trying to escape.

Patterson fired at the third customer when she “had no means of escape,” and “narrowly” missed her, striking the restaurant’s window instead.

All three customers got into a car and drove themselves to a nearby hospital for treatment. Two of the three sustained minor injuries, per the report.

According to the outlet, Patterson called the police and claimed he believed the customers had weapons on him. He admitted to police that he “pulled [his] gun and fired shots in the air.”

The affidavit claimed evidence “demonstrates Patterson is an active participant in the verbal argument with the victims.”

The document goes on to say Patterson “did intentionally and unlawfully threaten by word or act to do violence” against the victims. He’s also accused of creating a “well-founded fear in the victims that such violence was imminent.”

Patterson appeared in court the following day and remains in custody. He is scheduled to appear in court next on May 27.