Florida Dunkin’ Employee Fatally Punches Elderly Customer For Allegedly Repeatedly Using Racial Slur

A 77-year-old customer at a Dunkin’ store in Florida was fatally punched by an employee who allegedly was called racial slurs by the former, police said.

The incident took place on May 4 in Tampa. The unidentified elderly victim was rushed to a hospital where he died on May 7, NBC Bay Area reported. Police arrested the employee in question Tuesday on a manslaughter charge.

Corey Pujols, 27, who is Black, told investigators that the victim was "extremely rude" and called him a racial slur on the day the incident occurred, according to the Associated Press. When Pujols confronted the elderly man about the slur, he allegedly went on to yell more racial abuses which the accused said triggered him to punch the old man.

The victim initially placed his order at the store’s drive-thru but soon after he became upset over the lack of service and was asked to leave by other staff members. The elderly man instead raced into the building and began arguing with Pujols, Tampa Bay Times reported.

The elderly victim fell to the ground after Pujols punched him and hit his head on the concrete floor. An autopsy concluded that the man had suffered a skull fracture and brain contusion.

"We are deeply saddened by the incident at our franchised restaurant in Tampa," a Dunkin’ spokesperson said in a statement given to the Tampa Bay Times. "The franchisee, who independently owns and operates this restaurant, is fully cooperating with the local authorities. As this is an ongoing investigation, we defer any additional questions to the police."

Pujols was arrested that same day on a charge of battery on a person older than 65 and was released the following day after posting $2,000 bail, Kiro 7 reported, citing online booking records. The battery charge was upgraded to manslaughter Friday after the victim’s death. Pujols is likely to face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charge.