ST. LOUIS — Police are investigating after a woman said an employee at a St. Louis McDonald's pointed a rifle at her through the drive-thru window Monday evening.
Police said the incident happened at the McDonald's location near North Kingshighway Boulevard and Natural Bridge Road in the Penrose neighborhood. Police said a woman was trying to get food at around 9:20 p.m. when the employee pointed the gun at her through the drive-thru window.
The woman called police, and when officers responded to the restaurant, the employees refused to allow police inside. An employee eventually let the officers in so they could investigate.
A police K-9 was used to search the store, and police found two guns in the women's bathroom.
The victim was able to identify the employee who she said pointed a gun at her, and police took that suspect into custody. They said he was a 22-year-old man. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, he has not been charged.
A second employee, a 44-year-old man, was issued a summons for interfering with police by preventing them from entering the store.
“In our restaurants, nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our customers. I am very disturbed by the alleged inappropriate behavior of an employee, which is absolutely not tolerated.
"We are providing surveillance footage to the police department and are fully cooperating with their investigation," a spokesperson for Estel Foods, the McDonald’s franchisee that operates the restaurant, said in a statement.
The franchisee added that internal video captured by surveillance cameras does not support the police narrative. 5 On Your Side has requested to view the video.
5 On Your Side's Christine Byers and Jacob Kuerth contributed to this report.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to “stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.” One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/
Life Outside of Violence “helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence.”
To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership with Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
To learn more, visit https://www.ulstl.com/anti-crime-initiative.html
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/
