A Florida McDonald’s turned into what Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called a “McMess” after a late-night dispute over food orders led to a shooting that left one man with a minor neck wound.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd explained in a video posted on social media that the McDonald’s was overwhelmed with online orders following the early release of several events in the area on Sunday morning, Fox News reported.
Sheriff Judd sai that the worker, Yoan Soto, 21, "politely" informed Nicholas Jones, 18, and Peter Story, 20, who had approached the drive-thru, "‘Hey, sorry guys, we’re way behind. Our online orders are overwhelming us.’"
After Soto communicated that the store was unable to accommodate their order, the two men allegedly began threatening him. Surveillance footage captured Soto pointing a gun at Jones and Story after they entered the McDonald’s and continued to menace him.
"They threatened, ‘We’re going to hang out here,’ and ‘When you get off, we are going to beat you up.’ They threatened to attack the man who just told them, ‘We’re busy, we can’t take any more orders,’ and he did that because the manager told him to. They threatened him with violence," Sheriff Judd said.
Soto informed the men that he did not finish work until 4 a.m. and subsequently returned to his duties. "What do these goober smoochers do?" Judd added, noting that Jones and Story then parked and entered the restaurant.
"And they continue to threaten. They’re having a McArgument in the McDonald’s over McHamburgers or lack of McHamburgers." According to Judd, either Story or Jones mentioned having a "switch" and a "30-clip," to which Soto responded that he also possessed a gun. The manager intervened to halt the "McRabble."
"They continued to threaten a mass shooting because there were customers present with their firearms," Judd stated, adding that Soto retrieved his gun and threatened Jones and Story in the main part of the store.
The McDonald’s manager instructed Story and Jones to leave for trespassing, but Jones asserted that only law enforcement can declare someone trespassing, a point Judd clarified was incorrect.
As the two men attempted to seize Soto’s gun, he discharged the weapon, shooting Story in the neck. Judd commented, "It’s a blessing that it was a very minor wound, but you know what? When you start shooting McGuns, you’ll get people’s attention, and they’ll let you McHave the restaurant and that’s what they did."
Jones then transported Story to a hospital and contacted the police. Soto fled the scene but was returned to the restaurant when deputies arrived. He cooperated with authorities and has been charged with felony tampering with evidence. Story and Jones were charged with trespassing after warnings and for disorderly conduct.
"Listen folks, it’s never OK to threaten a mass shooting. It’s never OK to threaten to beat people up at a business. And it’s never OK to grab your ammunition and your firearm and run after a shooting," Judd said.
He added that Soto had the right to protect himself, "and these guys are threatening to do violence after they’ve already threatened on the outside of the store and came inside."
"They created a well-founded fear in him and the store manager," Judd concluded. "It was just a McMess. But we’ll sort it out, because we’re McGood at investigating McCrime."
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd explained in a video posted on social media that the McDonald’s was overwhelmed with online orders following the early release of several events in the area on Sunday morning, Fox News reported.
McDonald's staff shoot armed customer in NECK as threatens MASS SHOOTING pic.twitter.com/MmYbiEJEFF
— RT (@RT_com) October 19, 2025
Sheriff Judd sai that the worker, Yoan Soto, 21, "politely" informed Nicholas Jones, 18, and Peter Story, 20, who had approached the drive-thru, "‘Hey, sorry guys, we’re way behind. Our online orders are overwhelming us.’"
After Soto communicated that the store was unable to accommodate their order, the two men allegedly began threatening him. Surveillance footage captured Soto pointing a gun at Jones and Story after they entered the McDonald’s and continued to menace him.
"They threatened, ‘We’re going to hang out here,’ and ‘When you get off, we are going to beat you up.’ They threatened to attack the man who just told them, ‘We’re busy, we can’t take any more orders,’ and he did that because the manager told him to. They threatened him with violence," Sheriff Judd said.
Soto informed the men that he did not finish work until 4 a.m. and subsequently returned to his duties. "What do these goober smoochers do?" Judd added, noting that Jones and Story then parked and entered the restaurant.
"And they continue to threaten. They’re having a McArgument in the McDonald’s over McHamburgers or lack of McHamburgers." According to Judd, either Story or Jones mentioned having a "switch" and a "30-clip," to which Soto responded that he also possessed a gun. The manager intervened to halt the "McRabble."
"They continued to threaten a mass shooting because there were customers present with their firearms," Judd stated, adding that Soto retrieved his gun and threatened Jones and Story in the main part of the store.
The McDonald’s manager instructed Story and Jones to leave for trespassing, but Jones asserted that only law enforcement can declare someone trespassing, a point Judd clarified was incorrect.
As the two men attempted to seize Soto’s gun, he discharged the weapon, shooting Story in the neck. Judd commented, "It’s a blessing that it was a very minor wound, but you know what? When you start shooting McGuns, you’ll get people’s attention, and they’ll let you McHave the restaurant and that’s what they did."
Jones then transported Story to a hospital and contacted the police. Soto fled the scene but was returned to the restaurant when deputies arrived. He cooperated with authorities and has been charged with felony tampering with evidence. Story and Jones were charged with trespassing after warnings and for disorderly conduct.
"Listen folks, it’s never OK to threaten a mass shooting. It’s never OK to threaten to beat people up at a business. And it’s never OK to grab your ammunition and your firearm and run after a shooting," Judd said.
He added that Soto had the right to protect himself, "and these guys are threatening to do violence after they’ve already threatened on the outside of the store and came inside."
"They created a well-founded fear in him and the store manager," Judd concluded. "It was just a McMess. But we’ll sort it out, because we’re McGood at investigating McCrime."
You may also like
Louvre robbery: Shocking moment thief in hi-vis breaks into cabinet in 7-minute raid
More humiliation for Prince Andrew as 'law could be changed to strip him of another perk'
'Masterpiece' BBC adaptation of 1993 crime novel is named 'best series ever' - on iPlayer
Morrisons customers baffled as store asks them to call manager when stuck in long queues
'Masterpiece' BBC period drama based on beloved book is 'best Jane Austen adaptation'
