ORLANDO, Fla. – An argument over a food order at a Florida Checkers restaurant ended in shooting and one man dead, deputies said. A Checkers employee allegedly shot and killed a customer during an argument over the customer’s food. The Checkers employee was arrested and booked into jail on one count of first-degree premeditated murder.
What we know:
Elijah Travis Mackey | CREDIT: Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
The shooting happened around 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, at the Checkers fast-food restaurant on W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway.
Osceola County deputies determined that Elijah Travis Mackey, 23, an employee at Checkers, and Wesley Robertson, 51, were arguing over Robertson’s food order, deputies said.
At some point, Mackey shot Robertson. Robertson later died at the hospital.
Checkers worker accused of killing customer
A 23-year-old Checkers employee is accused of shooting and killing a customer during a dispute over a food order, officials say. Elijah Travis Mackey was arrested and charged with murder.
On May 22, Mackey was arrested and booked into jail. OCSO released video of Mackey being escorted by three deputies to a waiting patrol vehicle. He was handcuffed and wearing a white paper suit.
What we don’t know:
Additional details on the argument over food and the circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately available.
What they’re saying:
A large bullet hole was visible in the wall of the restaurant on Thursday, and the establishment remained closed as investigators processed the scene. Witnesses Michael Becraft and a friend were staying at a hotel nearby when they started hearing sirens.
“We didn’t hear no gunshots, but we heard a helicopter clearly, and so we kept, you know, we started following the police,” Becraft said.
On Thursday, the restaurant was closed with a sign on the order window and some caution tape blocking off the drive-through.
“It’s getting crazy nowadays with the kids and the guns,” he said. “If they’re not calling 911, they’re pulling out a gun. That’s how it is now.”
What’s next:
Elijah Travis Mackey was arrested and is being held in the Osceola County Jail without bond, facing a charge of premeditated murder. Mackey will need to make his first appearance to determine bond. FOX 35 has requested the probable cause statement from Osceola County Clerk of Court.
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The Source: The information in this article comes from a report shared by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office with FOX 35 News.
