By Samantha Anthony, a 32-year-old woman from San Antonio, Texas, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, after she allegedly fired eight gunshots at McDonald’s staff in a fit of rage over missing hash browns and biscuits from her order. Anthony is currently being held in police custody with a bond set at $75,000.
The incident occurred on December 30, 2023, when Anthony visited a McDonald’s restaurant just south of downtown at around 5 am. She left the restaurant but returned half an hour later, complaining that she was missing items from her order. Despite employees checking surveillance footage that showed Anthony being handed her order, with wrappers from her meal clearly visible on her lap, she persisted with her claim.
An employee, who chose to remain anonymous, told KENS-TV, “When I was talking to her, I noticed that she had the wrappers on her lap. I was just like, ‘Can I see the bag?’ Because I noticed the bag. (She said), ‘You didn’t give me a bag either,’ even though I could see it on her lap.”
Anthony became increasingly disgruntled, even bringing her boyfriend to complain alongside her. “She was hopping from the first drive-thru window to the second window, banging, talking, yelling,” an employee said.
After a 30-minute back-and-forth with an employee, during which Anthony maintained that she never received her order, she fired eight shots into the drive-thru window where employees were working. The fast-food workers, who were hiding behind walls and equipment, were left traumatized by the shooting. “I was crying, I was scared, I was having a panic attack,” one employee told the outlet.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. Anthony fled the scene immediately following the shootout, according to the affidavit.
Officers responded to the shooting and were able to identify Anthony by analyzing surveillance footage from the incident. They used her license plate on her gold 2011 Cadillac sport utility vehicle, which had a distinctive white sticker of a rifle and a “Big A” on the right-rear lower window. Photos also captured the suspect, who was identified by several visible tattoo markings.
The incident highlights the growing concern over violence in fast-food restaurants and the need for improved safety measures to protect employees from potentially dangerous situations. The traumatic experience has left the McDonald’s staff shaken, and they will likely require support to cope with the emotional impact of the shooting.
As the case against Samantha Anthony progresses, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe working environment for all employees, particularly those in customer-facing roles, who may be more vulnerable to acts of aggression or violence.
Credit:Dailymail
