The Daily Populous Saturday May 2nd, 2026 evening edition
Authored by pugetpress.com and submitted by kleverrboy

A fast-food argument over a drink order escalated into gunfire when a Florida Taco Bell employee allegedly opened fire on customers who filled a water cup with soda, authorities said.

The incident happened around lunchtime Monday, April 27, at a Taco Bell on 45th Street in West Palm Beach, according to an arrest report.

Investigators said the customers asked 20-year-old employee D’Mari Patterson for a cup of water. Patterson gave them the cup but later confronted them after they filled it with soda, the report said.

The confrontation quickly escalated into an argument before another employee stepped in to separate Patterson from the group, police said.

A customer began recording the scene on a cellphone, capturing Patterson yelling moments before the sound of a firearm being racked and a gunshot, the report said.

One of the victims ran outside, and Patterson followed and fired another round in their direction, which missed but struck a restaurant window, according to police.

The victims later went to a hospital and were treated for minor injuries.

Authorities said Patterson called 911 after the incident and told dispatchers that a customer had jumped behind the counter, prompting him to pull out a weapon and fire, according to the report.

Patterson also told responding officers he believed the customers had a gun and said they could “get jiggy,” but investigators said surveillance video did not support his claim of self-defense.

Patterson was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.

cheeturbo on May 2nd, 2026 at 12:48 UTC »

> Patterson also told responding officers he believed the customers had a gun and said they could “get jiggy,” but investigators said surveillance video did not support his claim of self-defense

SmallTalkStudios on May 2nd, 2026 at 07:21 UTC »

so anyway i started baja blastin

bogglingsnog on May 2nd, 2026 at 06:27 UTC »

That's so silly. The soda costs less than the water. Damn, the cup itself costs like 10x that of the soda.

Also, everyone knows the only one who should be allowed to shoot customers is the manager.