What to know
- A fight inside a Tim Hortons location in Fort Wayne, Indiana, resulted in the death of 75-year-old Anita Grayson and minor injuries to a 20-year-old shift leader after an altercation began following a drive-thru order.
- Police said Grayson entered the restaurant and began berating a 17-year-old employee before allegedly shoving and striking the shift leader when she was asked to leave the store.
- The confrontation escalated into a physical struggle, with both women exchanging blows and Grayson reportedly pulling out a chunk of the shift leader’s hair before collapsing shortly after the fight ended.
- The Fort Wayne Police Department said Grayson later became unconscious and died in hospital, adding that investigators released more details after a viral video online sparked what they called “misinformation” about the incident.
A fight in a Tim Hortons in the United States has led to the death of one elderly woman, and minor injuries to a different woman.
Security camera footage of the incident has been circulating social media, with some U.S. news organizations tracing the original post back to the daughter of Anita Grayson, the 75-year-old woman involved.
The incident happened at a location in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Police said in a press release they had arrived on scene at 3975 Ice Way for a reported battery assault.
Before officers were able to get a statement from Grayson, she became unresponsive, prompting paramedics to arrive on scene and bring her to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police said the incident surrounding her death related to a problem Grayson had with her drive-thru order.
In an updated press release on Tuesday, police said the 75-year-old had entered the Tim Hortons around 8:10 a.m., before approaching and “berating” a 17-year-old employee behind the counter.
Soon, a 20-year-old shift leader stepped in, telling Grayson to leave the business multiple times. The 75-year-old attempted to step around the shift leader to reach the underage employee, but when the 20-year-old placed a preventative hand on her arm, police said Grayson forcefully shoved the shift leader backward, before hitting her on the nose.
As the fight escalated, police said the shift lead began swinging her arms toward Grayson, in an attempt to hit her, before the 75-year-old retaliated by grabbing the 20-year-old’s face, scratching it and knocking off the shift lead’s glasses in the process.
Grayson also grabbed the shift lead by the hair, pulling her to the ground and getting on top of her.
Police said the shift lead attempted to swat the woman away as she was holding her down by the hair, but soon after Grayson effectively ripped the chunk out of the shift lead’s head, leaving a “raw” spot behind.
Once both women separated, police said Grayson sat down on a chair and began speaking on the phone, while the employees returned behind the counter. Grayson, while waiting for police to arrive on scene, also grabbed the chunk of the employee’s hair off the ground and placed it in her purse.
Soon after, Grayson laid back down on the floor, with the shift lead checking on her and attempting to bring her a cup of water. By the time an officer arrived, Grayson became unconscious. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) said in the press release that the circumstances around her death were still under investigation.
In an email to Now Toronto, Tim Hortons said they were “sad” to hear about what happened.
“We were deeply saddened to learn about this incident and our heartfelt condolences go out to the loved ones of Anita Grayson,” the statement said in part. “The health and safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority and the local franchisee has been cooperating fully with the police.”
The company did not comment on the condition of their staff or what actions were taken following the incident.
The FWPD added in the updated press release that they originally kept details around the circumstances limited in respect for Grayson’s family, but following the viral video of the incident, they felt it was important to share more.
“…A dangerously false narrative, along with poor-quality video circulating publicly, has led to significant public concern and misinformation,” the press release read in part. “For that reason, and because it is in the public interest, FWPD is releasing the facts of the case along with a clear and complete video of the events that occurred inside Tim Hortons.”
Now Toronto reached out to the FWPD but did not hear back by publication.
