Arby’s manager accused of shooting customer who spat at her, charged with murder
A Black woman who says she felt threatened by a customer of the fast food restaurant she managed, is now accused in his homicide
The manager of an Arby’s restaurant in Oklahoma has been charged after fatally shooting a customer who she claims threatened her.
According to the New York Post, Tulsa County jail records confirm that, on Monday, Deionna Young was arrested and the next day was held without bond on a first-degree murder charge.
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Sgt. Shane Tuell told reporters that on Saturday, Young reported to authorities that after a drive-thru customer cursed and spit at her, she asked him to leave. But the 25-year-old claims that later that day the customer — now identified as Desean Tallent — returned to the scene about an hour after the initial altercation, but drove away.
According to a Facebook post by Tulsa Police, Tallent “promised to come back and hurt her and about an hour later, did return. Officers were flagged down by the manager, and did a report on the incident, naming Tallent as the assault suspect.”
Young, who reportedly was in possession of a .45 caliber handgun without a license, claims she felt threatened by the return visit because, “Tallent came back and circled the lot,” as if he was making good on his previous warning.
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Believing she was in danger, the restaurant manager hopped into her vehicle and decided to follow Tallent. After what authorities describe as “both vehicles braking and playing cat and mouse” she shot into his SUV, hitting him in the upper torso. After being shot, the young man crashed his car into the entrance of a Walmart.
He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, and Young returned to work to finish her shift.
A spokesperson for Arby’s says the franchise owner is fully cooperating with authorities during the investigation.
