Background: Surveillance video from the McDonald's where Yoan Soto (far left) allegedly pulled a gun on Nicholas Jones (center) and Peter Story (right) (Polk County Sheriff's Office). Insets (clockwise from top) Yoan Soto, Peter Story, and Nicholas Jones (Polk County Sheriff's Office).
Three Florida men were charged after an argument at a McDonald's restaurant ended with one of them getting shot.
Yoan Soto, 21, was working an overnight shift at a McDonald's location in Davenport when he encountered two customers, 19-year-old Peter Story and 18-year-old Nicholas Jones, at the drive-thru window. As Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd explained in a video posted to Facebook, a number of events had just ended during the early morning hours of Oct. 12, and several people flocked to McDonald's afterward. The demand for food caused a backup at the restaurant, and by the time Story and Jones pulled up, Soto had to tell them that they were no longer accepting orders.
According to police, that did not go over well with Story and Jones.
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Police wrote in an affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime that Story and Jones became "argumentative," exchanging words with Soto over the drive-thru speaker. Soto's manager told police that Soto said the pair threatened to "beat his a—." Judd said that the two men told Soto that they were carrying weapons, to which Soto replied that he had a gun as well. According to the affidavit, Story and Jones told Soto that they would be waiting in the parking lot for him after his shift was over.
While Soto recounted the conversation to his manager, Story and Jones entered the McDonald's and continued their argument in person. Judd said in his video, "They're having a McArgument at McDonald's over McHamburgers. Or lack of McHamburgers."
The verbal altercation soon became heated, and Soto's manager told police that Story and Jones "reference firearms" while inside the restaurant, allegedly mentioning a "30 clip" and "switches." Judd stated, "They're threatening to McShoot up the place."
According to the arrest affidavits for Story and Jones, Soto's manager then told the two that they had to leave the store. The two men allegedly refused to leave, saying that only law enforcement could force them out.
While Soto's manager attempted to deescalate the situation, Soto can be seen on surveillance video going to the employee break room, according to the affidavit. Soto then comes back, pointing a gun at Story and Jones to herd them out of the restaurant. During a physical confrontation, Soto's gun discharged and hit Story in the neck, causing a non-life-threatening injury. The two customers fled the restaurant to take Story to the hospital, Judd said.
Soto then allegedly picked up the spent shell casing from the floor, telling another employee that "it belonged to him." Judd said in the Facebook video that while Soto "has a right to stand his ground and protect himself," he allegedly tried to tamper with evidence by collecting the shell casing.
Judd said, "It's never okay to threaten a mass shooting. It's never okay to threaten to beat people up at a business. And it's never okay to grab your ammunition and your firearm and run after a shooting."
Soto was charged with tampering with evidence and was arrested at his home on Oct. 14. He posted bond and was released. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 18.
Story and Jones were each charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. Both were arrested and posted bond. Story is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 31; Jones is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 20.