State Watch

Two McDonald’s workers shot by customer irate dining room closed over coronavirus

Two McDonald’s employees in Oklahoma City were injured in a shooting Wednesday after police say a woman became irate after they were told that the store’s lobby was closed for dine-in customers.

Local ABC affiliate KOCO reported that the unidentified woman, who police said was in custody, drew a firearm at some point during a confrontation with employees in the store, firing upon them and injuring two 16-year-old male workers. Police initially thought two suspects were involved but later revised that number to one.

Police officials added to KOCO that the two workers’ injuries were not thought to be life-threatening and that they had been taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Shannon Watts, founder of gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action, slammed news of the shooting on Twitter, claiming that the U.S. was making gun access easier during the pandemic.

“Two women upset that they couldn’t dine-in at an Oklahoma McDonald’s due to COVID-19 shot and injured two 16-year-old employees,” she tweeted. “Every high-income country is home to dangerous people. Only America is making access to guns even easier during the pandemic.”

Restaurants around the country have temporarily suspended dine-in service due to the coronavirus outbreak, while many have remained open allowing takeout and delivery services.

Oklahoma allowed some restaurants to reopen dine-in services last week, provided that they maintain social distancing and sanitation procedures.