A routine fast-food visit turned deadly at a Florida Checkers location this week.
The decision resulted in life-changing consequences for the man.
And a Florida man made one shocking decision during a fast food dispute that ended in tragedy.
Florida fast-food dispute turns deadly at Checkers drive-thru
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at a Checkers restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida around 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday night.
What began as a disagreement over a food order ended with 51-year-old customer Wesley Robertson shot and fatally wounded.
Authorities have identified 23-year-old Checkers employee Elijah Travis Mackey as the shooter in the incident that occurred at the restaurant located on W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway.
According to investigators, Mackey and Robertson were engaged in a verbal dispute regarding Robertson’s food order when the confrontation escalated dramatically.
Mackey allegedly drew a weapon and shot Robertson, who was rushed to Osceola Regional Medical Center but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
“The investigation revealed that while working, Elijah Mackey engaged in a verbal dispute with Wesley Robertson regarding his food order. The confrontation escalated, leading Elijah Mackey to shoot Wesley Robertson,” the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office stated in their official release.
Employee arrested and charged with premeditated murder
Following the shooting, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit acted swiftly to build their case against Mackey.
Just one day after the incident, on May 22, investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging Mackey with first-degree premeditated murder – one of the most serious charges possible under Florida law.
Video released by the Sheriff’s Office shows Mackey being escorted by three deputies to a patrol vehicle.Â
The accused was handcuffed and dressed in a white paper suit, standard procedure when collecting evidence from a suspect’s clothing.
Mackey has been booked into the Osceola County Jail and is being held without bond pending his first court appearance.
The restaurant remained closed on Thursday with a sign posted on the order window and caution tape blocking the drive-through area.Â
Investigators continued processing the scene, where a large bullet hole was visible in the wall of the establishment.
Local residents shocked by fast-food violence
The shooting has left the Kissimmee community stunned that a disagreement over fast food could turn so deadly.
Witness Michael Becraft, who was staying at a nearby hotel, told local media that he and a friend became aware of the incident when they heard sirens and saw a helicopter.
“We didn’t hear no gunshots, but we heard a helicopter clearly, and so we kept, you know, we started following the police,” Becraft told FOX 35 Orlando.
Becraft expressed concern about the rise in gun violence, particularly among younger people. “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.”
The incident comes amid heightened national concern about customer-employee conflicts in the fast-food industry, with several high-profile confrontations making headlines in recent years.
Investigation continues as community seeks answers
Authorities have not yet released all details surrounding the shooting, including what specifically about the food order triggered the dispute or whether there had been any previous interaction between Mackey and Robertson.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the case to contact them at (407) 348-2222.
In the coming days, Mackey will make his first court appearance where a judge will review the charges and evidence against him and make determinations about his continued detention.
The Osceola County Clerk of Court has not yet made public the probable cause statement, which would contain additional details about the evidence against Mackey and the circumstances of the shooting.
This deadly encounter serves as a stark reminder of how quickly disputes can escalate when firearms are involved, turning what should have been a routine fast-food transaction into a tragedy that has forever changed the lives of all involved.
