Florida fast food worker climbs out drive-thru window, fatally shoots customer, police say

A Checkers employee shot and killed a customer who reportedly complained about his food and asked to speak to a manager, Florida authorities said.

Elijah Travis Mackey, 23, was found hiding under a stairwell of a nearby motel and taken into custody, then he was charged with murder, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

McClatchy News reached out to Checkers & Rally’s for comment on the incident but did not immediately receive a response May 26.

The May 21 shooting stemmed from a male customer being upset with his food, deputies said in an arrest warrant.

Witnesses said the customer complained about his order to a female employee working at the Checkers window and asked to talk to a manager several times, investigators wrote in the report.

Video shows Mackey climb out of the drive-thru window and walk around the front of the restaurant, where witnesses said he started arguing with the customer, deputies said.

A witness recounted the customer insulted Mackey, then Mackey pulled out a gun from his waistband and shot the customer in the chest, according to investigators.

Video shows the man collapse to the ground, deputies said.

A witness told deputies Mackey ran off, then came back to get his backpack before fleeing again, investigators said.

Law enforcement reported they found him hiding at a motel nearby, and he asked several times if the victim was OK while being taken into custody.

Kissimmee is part of the Orlando metropolitan area.