Authorities have charged two women after an altercation between a McDonald’s manager and a worker’s mom turned violent.
According to a press release by the Belleville Police Department, the incident occurred on July 16 at a McDonald’s restaurant at 125 South Belt East. Officers arrived at the scene, although they only learned of the shooting once they got there. The news release explains that Kathy M. Bledsoe was the store manager and asked a “juvenile female” employee to take out the trash. She refused, so Bledsoe sent her home.
The Police Department explains that the employee called her mom, Tynika R. McKinzie, who showed up at the McDonald’s with another juvenile female. A verbal altercation ensued, which started in the store lobby and “proceeded 75 feet beyond the counter to the office area.”
The news release details that McKinzie “battered Bledsoe in the face and head.” The McDonald’s manager drew a handgun during the altercation and shot McKinzie once in the leg.
The McDonald’s Manager Was Taken Into Custody
The report reveals that authorities took Bledsoe into custody and notes that McKinzie was not. Police are charging Bledsoe with “One count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a Class 4 Felony.” McKinzie faces two charges. “One count of Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony” and ” One count of Mob Action, a Class 4 Felony.”
According to a report by USA Today, St. Clair County Jail told the outlet that they released Bledsoe on Monday. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 1. Her attorney, Patrick Sullivan, told USA Today in a statement, “Ms. Bledsoe acted purely in self-defense after sustaining physical injuries at the hands of her attackers. She is now safe at home with her family, where she belongs, and denounces the violent acts that led to this incident.”
The Belleville Police Department said in the news release, “It is unfortunate that this incident occurred. It seems individuals are quick to resort to violence to resolve disputes without consideration of the impact their actions have on the community as a whole. This was an unnecessary incident that could have been mitigated without punches being thrown or a gun being used.”