Checkers employee accused of killing customer 'possibly asking for mayonnaise packets'

A Checkers employee in Florida was arrested after being accused of shooting and killing a customer who "was possibly asking for mayonnaise packets," according to local authorities and court documents.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office shared on May 22 that Elijah Travis Mackey, 23, was charged with premeditated murder with a firearm in connection with the killing of Wesley Robertson at a Checkers location in Kissimmee.

Mackey, who was working at the Checkers location during the incident around 10:10 p.m., engaged in a verbal dispute with Robertson regarding his food order, according to the sheriff's office. The confrontation escalated, prompting Mackey to shoot Robertson, the law enforcement agency said.

Robertson was taken to a local medical center, where he succumbed to his injuries, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies arrested Mackey and booked him into the Osceola County Jail on May 22, the sheriff's office said. It is unclear if Mackey has a bail or defense attorney.

Paste BN contacted Checkers on May 27 but did not receive an immediate response.

Witnesses recount the confrontation between Mackey and Robertson

According to an arrest warrant obtained by Paste BN, a witness told detectives that after Robertson, who was on foot in the Checkers' drive-thru line, got his food from the right window, he began complaining about his order and demanded to speak to the manager several times.

While at the window, Mackey came around from the right side of the building and began arguing with Robertson, the arrest warrant says. During the argument, Robertson called Mackey several slurs before the employee reached into the right side of the front of his waistband and pulled out a small handgun, the witness told detectives, per the court document.

No other words were exchanged before Mackey shot Robertson in the chest, the witness said, according to the arrest warrant. When the injured Robertson fell headfirst into the building, Mackey ran toward a nearby slingshot ride, the court document states.

Another witness told detectives a similar story, but the person noted that Robertson was possibly asking the Checkers workers for mayonnaise packets at the time of the incident, the arrest warrant states. The witness also told detectives that after fleeing, Mackey returned to the business moments later to retrieve his backpack, only to leave on foot once again, according to the court document.

Responding deputies eventually found Mackey hiding under the stairwell of a motel, and when deputies handcuffed him, he spontaneously said, "I have a gun on me," the arrest warrant says. Once the gun on Mackey was recovered, the court document states that deputies heard Mackey say several times, "Is dude okay?"

Video from the Checkers shows Mackey climbing out of a drive-thru window and walking to the frontof the business, where Robertson was. Moments later, the video shows the customer falling to the ground, according to the arrest warrant.

Checkers: 'We are shocked and saddened'

In a statement obtained by People and WESH, Checkers said: "We are shocked and saddened by the incident that occurred last night at our restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida. The actions of this one employee do not reflect the values of the thousands of our hardworking employees across the country. We are working closely with the police in their investigation, and we are sending our thoughts and prayers to the guest's family."

The Checkers location in Kissimmee reopened for business on May 23, WESH reported.

Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.