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, 23, stands accused of first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Wesley Robertson, authorities say. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday to the Checkers at 5780 W. U.S. 192 in Kissimmee for a shooting.
Paramedics rushed Robertson to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
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Witnesses later told detectives Robertson had been complaining to a female employee about his order and requested several times to speak with a manager. One witness told cops the argument was over missing mayonnaise packets, per the affidavit. While Robertson stood at the window, Mackey came around to the front of the building and began arguing with him.
During the spat, witnesses believed Robertson called Mackey a “p—y” or a “b—,” the affidavit said. Mackey allegedly said “oh I am a p—y,?” pulled out a gun and shot 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.”
