In Altamonte Springs, Florida, a tense confrontation erupted at a McDonald’s when a customer drew a handgun after a dispute over a free cookie. The incident occurred late in the evening, with police arriving around 11:32 p.m. on February 16 after receiving a report of a woman with a gun at the fast food restaurant.
According to an indictment, 24-year-old Amari Hendrix felt aggrieved by a staff member who she believed had refused to provide bonuses from the company’s rewards program. The disagreement escalated quickly as Hendrix pressed the staff for the promised perks, arguing that she should have been told about the rewards program and the benefits it offered.
Authorities spoke with personnel from two local establishments involved in the incident. The McDonald’s manager stated that Hendrix had received free cookies earlier in the interaction but continued to argue with the employees over the issue.
The food sales manager described Hendrix as pulling a gun and manipulating its mechanism while shouting at the staff. In the moments that followed, the staff sought to secure the doors and protect customers as fear spread throughout the restaurant.
After Hendrix departed, an employee attempted to lock the doors to keep others safe. A later portion of the incident saw the vehicle approach the entrance again, with Hendrix attempting to drive through the entryway. The vehicle managed to breach the threshold, and a confrontation ensued in which one employee sustained multiple injuries from blows as Hendrix attempted to gain entry.
The victim sustained scratches to the face and neck during the altercation. Questioned by police, Hendrix claimed to hold a license to carry a firearm and denied firing the weapon, though the defense of a firearm today remains a contested issue in the case.
Hendrix now faces charges that include aggravated wounding, simple wounding, resisting law enforcement, and displaying a firearm. A bail amount of $31,500 has been set as the case proceeds through the judicial process.
In related local coverage, a separate incident in Chicago recently captured attention when a robber, after taking fried chicken from a driver, chose to finish the meal at the crime scene and underlines the variety of situations that can unfold in urban settings.