Inset: Elijah Mackey (Osceola County Jail). Background: Checkers in Kissimmee, Florida (Google Maps).
A dispute over mayonnaise led to an employee at Checkers shooting a customer to death outside the fast food joint in Florida, authorities say.
Elijah Mackey, aged 23, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 40-year-old Wesley Robertson, as stated by officials. According to an arrest affidavit detailing probable cause, deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office were called to the Checkers located at 5780 W. U.S. 192 in Kissimmee shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday due to a reported shooting incident.
Paramedics rushed Robertson to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
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Witnesses told investigators that Robertson was upset about his order and had repeatedly asked to see a manager while speaking with a female employee. One witness mentioned that the dispute involved missing mayonnaise packets, as noted in the affidavit. As Robertson stood by the window, Mackey approached the front of the building and started a confrontation with him.
During the altercation, witnesses reported that Robertson might have insulted Mackey with terms like “p—y” or a “b—,” according to the affidavit. In response, Mackey allegedly questioned “oh I am a p—y?” before drawing a firearm and shooting Robertson in the chest.
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Mackey ran away but returned to grab his backpack before fleeing again. Cops later found Mackey hiding under a stairwell at a nearby hotel. He told deputies he had a gun on him and asked “is dude OK?,” the affidavit said.
Video from the Checkers showed Mackey climbing out of a drive-thru window and him running up to Robertson before shooting him, according to cops.
The defendant was appointed an attorney. He remains in the Osceola County without bond.
A Checkers spokesperson released the following statement to local CBS affiliate WKMG:
“We are shocked and saddened by the incident that occurred last night at our restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida,” the statement said. “The actions of this one employee do not reflect the values of the thousands of our hardworking employees across the country. We are working closely with the police in their investigation, and we are sending our thoughts and prayers to the guest’s family.”
