A 26-year-old McDonald’s employee in Michigan has been arrested for allegedly killing her manager, stabbing the 39-year-old mother to death after the two had a verbal altercation that resulted in the victim sending the suspect home early.
According to a news release, at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday, officers from the Eastpointe Police Department responded to a McDonald’s in the 17000 block of 9 Mile Road for a report of a stabbing and shots fired.
A subsequent investigation revealed that there had been a “dispute” between the suspect and the restaurant manager, which led to the manager sending the employee home early.
However, a short time later, the employee who had been sent home returned to the restaurant armed with a knife and “proceeded to stab the victim whom she had a prior dispute with.”
A customer who was at the drive-thru window during the stabbing was armed with a gun and fired a shot into the air in an attempt to stop the attack. Authorities reported that no one was hit by the bullet.
The suspected assailant attempted to flee the scene, but the witness who fired the shot in the air pursued her and detained her until police arrived a short time later to arrest her.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, but she died from her injuries.
The victim’s family told Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ about the tragic incident, identifying her as Jennifer “Jamma” Harris, a mother of six who had worked at the McDonald’s for 15 years.
“She was the best mom anybody could ever ask for,” Jennifer’s oldest daughter, Antonia Griffin, said. “My mother woke up every day and went to work for us. My mother died trying to care for us.”
The family also told the station that Harris and the suspect were friends before Thursday’s fatal stabbing.
Following the attack, a witness spoke with Detroit’s Fox affiliate WJBK.
“She started stabbing her, so I ran for help and basically asked everybody like ‘help help’ or whatever,” the witness told the station, noting that the employee was wearing a mask when she returned. “I tried to stop her, but there was no stopping her. “She stabbed her everywhere.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the stabbing to contact Eastpointe Detective Showers at 586-445-9415.
Yusef Alcodray, the local owner of McDonald’s, issued the following statement to several outlets:
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in my restaurants, and we are taking this matter extremely serious, as the safety and well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation, and the restaurant will remain closed until further notice.”
Police have not yet identified the alleged attacker. The department did not immediately respond to requests from Law&Crime for additional information.
