This Taco Bell worker is accused of shooting at 3 customers, but it all started with a simple water cup argument

Restaurant employees often make it to the headlines for doing something odd. Previously, we heard of a server who disagreed on the tipped amount, and chaos struck, but now, Taco Bell is making headlines for the wrong reasons. Almost every one of us has heard about the longstanding cheapskate hack where people put soda in water cups, but apparently, this can have serious consequences.

Speaking of this clever hack, according to People, a Taco Bell employee ended up shooting 3 customers because of this soda-in-water-cup thing. Yes, you read it right, he reportedly opened fire after an argument that sparked because one of the customers was involved in this hack. The 2-year-old employee, D’Mari Jy’Quan Patterson, was then charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, per the court documents obtained by the outlet.

Happened in Florida, Patterson was arrested after this incident on April 27. The employee claimed that he opened fire in self defense from the three female customers. Evidence, on the other hand, told a different story. Following the tensions, the Taco Bell branch quickly turned into an odd scene with the customers running away after the gunshots.

The customers thought that they’ll be fine, but things changed with the sound of the slide of a firearm being racked

If you have already done something like this, please don’t try it again, and if you haven’t, pat yourself on the back! It looks like putting soda in the water cup did spark tensions, but everything changed when it became a full-fledged argument, and then Patterson took his gun out. Two customers reached the counter and requested a water cup from him. However, per the police affidavit obtained by the outlet, one of them decided to fill the cup from the soda fountain.

Of course, it sparked a debate as no employee would tolerate this, but as they were arguing with Patterson, a third customer stepped in, and then the heat was fueled. The affidavit mentions a witnesses’s cell phone footage and states that the alleged shooter yelled, “Do something! Do something! Do something.” Then another employee intervened and tried to separate him from the customers.

Well, that’s where everything changed as Patterson took his gun out, swung his arm, and struck one of the victims with it. The customer then fell on the floor while one of them left. The poor victim who got struck ran out of Taco Bell, but Patterson chased after her. The third was also attempting to leave, but ended up stuck “between the door and an exterior restaurant wall.” Her hopelessness must have been at its peak when Patterson came close and shot toward her. Luckily, the bullet just missed, breaking through the restaurant window.

While a gun was used, it was a lucky day for all as both walked away with minor injuries. The employee, on the other hand, called the authorities, admitted that he used his gun, but said that he used it because he thought the customers were carrying weapons. However, the affidavit made it clear that there was no evidence to back Patterson’s self-defense claims.

We have heard about a brawl between women early in the morning at Texas Whatburger, but this incident has given these customers a life lesson. Patterson is still in custody, but this incident gives us a reality check that sometimes even a small act can lead to bigger consequences.