A McDonald’s security guard was arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly shot a man during a physical altercation. The fight occurred at a McDonald’s restaurant in Hyattsville on Saturday night.
The altercation stemmed from the man refusing to leave the restaurant, according to the police. The police say that the security guard initiated the fight with the unarmed man, who was identified as Ricardo Clemons Jr. He is accused of hitting the man with his baton and firing a single shot to the chest.
According to a report from NBC Washington, the McDonald’s employee asked the Clemons to leave the restaurant, which is located in the 2300 block of University Boulevard. Clemons was a regular at the fast food restaurant but “was often asked to leave due to loitering,” per the police report.
Prince George’s County police reported that the restaurant’s security guard, Murwanashyaka Francois, asked the 45-year-old man to leave the restaurant around 8:25 p.m. on Saturday. Clemons refused to leave, prompting the guard to deploy pepper spray in his face.
Shortly afterwards, the 54-year-old security guard and Clemons got into a fight. During the fight, Francois withdrew his baton and used it to hit Clemons multiple times. The fight turned deadly after Francois reportedly withdrew his firearm and shot Clemons. Clemons was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident was filmed by an onlooker and shared on Instagram by @Code3DMV. The footage shows Clemons holding the baton at one point, and Francois orders him to release the weapon while holding the baton in one hand and his firearm in the other. As soon as he does, the guard starts hitting Clemons with the baton and shoots him shortly after.
The court document also reads, “Based on the entire physical encounter being initiated by the Defendant’s actions, the Defendant is responsible for the murder of the Decedent.” Francois has since been arrested and remains in police custody without bond. The McDonald’s restaurant released a statement, expressing that it is “saddened by this weekend’s tragic incident,” and that it is cooperating with the police.
