TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Police said a Dunkin’ store employee fatally punched a 77-year-old customer in Florida after the employee said the man repeatedly used a racial slur against him.
The victim, a man who police did not name, was punched May 4 and died Friday. That led to a manslaughter charge against 27-year-old Corey Pujols, who worked at the store.
Pujols told police that the man was “extremely rude” the day of the punch and had called him a racial slur. Pujols, who is Black, said he confronted the man about the slur, at which point the 77-year-old repeated it. The slur was not described further by police.
A Tampa Police Department report says after he was punched, the victim fell backward and hit his head on the concrete floor. The Tampa Bay Times reports an autopsy shows the man suffered a skull fracture and brain contusions.
Police: Dunkin’ customer, 77, fatally punched by employee
A couple of lessons here: The myth of fists being benign uses of force just keeps being taken apart. How many similar cases do you know off in your lifetimes?
Second: Words do not hurt. Insults do not represent reasonable fear of Death or grave Bodily Harm so they do not raise to the level of using Deadly Force. And it does not matter if the employee did not mean to kill the customer as the prosecution will say that a reasonable and prudent person knows that attacking a senior of that advanced age could result in Death or Grave Bodily Harm.
Third: I can’t help but think that Ego was also included in the package “Old fart called me a name? I can take him with one punch and teach him a lesson!” and now he is sitting in jail, no bail and facing up to 30 year in prison. Words do not hurt. Big hunkering horny cellmates that have designs on your butthole will hurt, and a lot and repeatedly.
Terrible. Going into my folder for just such incidents (I use this when folks claim punches are never deadly).
This is another reason why it’s idiotic for folks to say something along the lines of “a gun wasn’t necessary” because “you didn’t know he would kill.” I am under no obligation to be equally-matched with an aggressor, or wait to see what the possible results of an assault are, at which point it could be too late.
Honestly, I’m not buying the “racial slur” at face value. Here’s why:
Remember Cannon Hinnant? 5 year old who was shot in the head by his black neighbor cuz he was on his lawn last year? This next part never gets talked about: guy claimed that part of what set him off is he got called a slur.
From a 5 year old that knew him his whole life.
It’s an extreme example, but does highlight some things.
Another Rabid Animal foaming at the mouth.
The cure will stop recidivism.
This story will change in 6months, as they ALL seem too.
Hot take. I don’t feel bad for either of them. Don’t we all preach speak softly and carry a big stick? Neither of them did that and they both are paying the consequences they earned.
Matt, do you have ANY basis other than “reporting” from “media” about what excuse the murderer claimed for his actions that the victim did anything wrong? If not, why are you blaming the victim?
None, hence HOT TAKE.
I agree with your takeaway lessons, but I would add another. The employee had no right to assault the customer. While rude, the customer didn’t “ask” to be murdered. The murderer was completely in the wrong, but the fact that he might go to jail for a long time doesn’t help the man’s friends and family who have lost someone they love. The dead man won’t find justice in the grave. While impolite speech isn’t a crime here … yet … it is wise to guard your tongue. I would say that is doubly so when you carry. Avoiding conflict when reasonable is generally the best plan for your safety and your continued freedom.
Also fun to remember that in Florida violence against a senior citizen gets you a bump up in the status of the charge/punishment