Photo courtesy of Metro
In recent years, racists have become more emboldened, much to their own detriment. On May 4, that boldness came to a fatal climax when Dunkin’ Donuts employee Corey Pujols rendered a fatal punch to an elderly man who called him a racial slur, reported Newsweek.
Pujols, 27, worked at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Tampa, Florida when the 77-year-old man pulled through the drive-thru. The elderly customer was clearly irate, and at some point, the employees asked him to leave. Instead of complying, he parked and entered the restaurant.
At that point, Pujols and the man argued. Pujols told police that the customer is a regular visitor to that Dunkin’ Donuts location, but that day, he was insulting and called Pujols a racial slur twice.
Pujols, the store manager, punched the man once, and he fell and hit his head on the restaurant’s cement floor. When fire and police arrived at the Dunkin’ Donuts, he was unconscious and bleeding. After two days in intensive care, the man succumbed at Tampa General Hospital. According to an autopsy, the man died of a fractured skull and brain contusions. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
What began for Pujols as an arrest for battery on an individual over 65 turned into aggravated manslaughter on an individual over 65 charge. The crime is a first-degree felony and punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The former restaurant manager is being held without bail, but jail records show that a public defender will represent him.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the man’s name is not available due to Florida’s Marsy’s Law that keeps the names of victims confidential to protect them.
Florida is one of the states that has a controversial “Stand Your Ground” law.
Because the employees asked the customer to leave Dunkin’ Donuts before the incident, this case’s take is uncertain.
Pujols is being held without bail. Representatives from Dunkin’ Donuts have not responded to media requests for a statement.