A Dunkin’ Donuts employee in Florida who prosecutors said fatally punched a customer for using a racial slur pleaded guilty to felony battery and was sentenced Monday to two years of house arrest.
Corey Pujols, a 27-year-old who worked at a Tampa Dunkin’ Donuts, was also mandated by a Florida judge to participate in anger management training and perform 200 hours of community service, according to a report.
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The incident took place at roughly 1:30 p.m. on May 4, 2021, authorities said.
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Customer Vonelle Cook, 77, was angered over the service provided to him at the drive-thru, court records read.
The customer had “repeatedly used possibly the most aggressive and offense term in the English language” when he confronted the Dunkin’ employee, a state attorney spokesman said https://t.co/t2CDXSiheu
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Cook tried to order a coffee, but employees had difficulty hearing him, according to the records. That’s when Cook became angry and was told to leave, after which he entered the Dunkin’ and accosted the employees.
Pujols requested a coworker call authorities, which led to a dispute between himself and Cook, the prosecution stated. When Pujols asked Cook to leave, the latter responded with a racial slur.
The employee approached the angered customer and asked him to refrain from using such language, but Cook repeated the slur, according to court records. The employee responded with a punch that landed on Cook’s jaw and knocked him down.
Cook died three days later and was determined to have suffered brain contusions and a skull fracture.
Pujols was charged with aggravated manslaughter, but he reportedly pleaded guilty to felony battery, a lesser charge, as part of a plea deal.
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“Two of the primary factors were the aggressive approach the victim took toward the defendant and everyone working with the defendant, and that the victim repeatedly used possibly the most aggressive and offensive term in the English language,” said a spokesman for Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren.
