In a shocking incident at a Chipotle, two customers brutally attacked a restaurant employee over a dispute regarding an extra charge for chicken.
The assault, which occurred on December 10, has led to charges against the alleged assailants, Jamel Bernard Williams, 36, and Kayla Nicole Pyle, 34, according to the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office.
The suspects, both hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, arrived at the popular restaurant chain around 9 p.m. Pyle placed an order and requested additional chicken on her meal. The 20-year-old Chipotle employee informed Pyle of the extra charge for the additional protein, sparking a verbal altercation, as reported by the Queens City News.
The distressed employee decided to leave work early due to the disagreement. However, the situation escalated into physical violence as she was leaving the restaurant. Williams, who is 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds, allegedly rushed into the restaurant from a side entrance and attacked the employee, according to police accounts.
Footage obtained by the outlet shows Williams overpowering the petite worker, pulling her hair, and throwing her around as horrified customers pleaded for him to stop. The video also shows Williams appearing to step on the employee as she huddled on the ground in self-defense.
As the assault continued, Pyle allegedly joined in, striking the worker in the head. Following the attack, Williams, Pyle, and a male juvenile fled the scene, according to police.
The assaulted Chipotle employee sustained injuries during the incident but sought medical treatment independently. The extent of her injuries remains undisclosed. The relationship between Williams, Pyle, and the juvenile is currently unknown.
A strand of Williams hair, found at the scene, has been submitted for evidence analysis. The suspects were identified with the help of personnel from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Sheriff Barry Faile, in a statement on Friday, condemned the assault, stating, I dont know what was said between Pyle and the victim, but the victim was leaving for home and was chased down from behind by Williams and attacked in the dining room of the restaurant. The assault was completely unjustified. I hope the victim has recovered from her injuries. I appreciate the help we got from Charlotte Mecklenburg PD to identify Williams and Pyle, and I encourage them to turn themselves in and let the judicial system run its course in this case.
Arrest warrants for Williams and Pyle were issued on Wednesday. Williams faces a charge of Assault and Battery in the 1st Degree, while Pyle has been charged with Assault and Battery in the 2nd Degree.
Indian Land, where the incident took place, is a village located on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina, approximately 20 miles northwest of Charlotte.
This incident follows a similar case earlier this month in Ohio, where a woman was sentenced to work at a Chipotle for two months after throwing a burrito bowl at an employee's face. Judge Timothy Gilligan of the Parma Municipal Court reprimanded the woman, Rosemary Hayne, stating, You didnt get your burrito bowl the way you like it and this is how you respond? before sentencing her to work at the restaurant.
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