A recent dispute in a Jacksonville drive-thru escalated dramatically, leading to a shooting incident at a local Dunkin' on Gate Parkway. The altercation, which occurred on May 27, 2025, around 5:35 p.m., involved a 21-year-old woman and her ex-girlfriend's stepfather, identified by authorities as 48-year-old Tommie Lee Taylor III, according to News4JAX.
The argument began within the suspect's vehicle while in the drive-thru line, per the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO). As the woman attempted to exit the vehicle, Taylor allegedly fired two shots, striking her in the back of the head and the shoulder, as reported by WJXT. Despite her injuries, the victim managed to enter the Dunkin' establishment to seek help and contact emergency services, according to First Coast News. She was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition, cooperating with law enforcement officials.
Investigation and Arrest
JSO investigators quickly located the suspect's vehicle, a Toyota Tundra, on Jacksonville's northside. Authorities successfully immobilized the vehicle by ramming it and took Tommie Lee Taylor III into custody, according to First Coast News. Taylor has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated fleeing/attempting to elude law enforcement, with reports indicating he was uncooperative during the investigation, as noted by First Coast News.
While the exact nature of the argument remains under investigation, the victim reportedly met with her ex-girlfriend’s parents to discuss their daughter’s mental health and retrieve a cell phone, according to First Coast News. JSO states this appears to be an isolated incident, and the victim and suspect were known to each other, per Patch.
Local Context: Prior Drive-Thru Violence
This incident is not the first time a dispute in a Jacksonville drive-thru has escalated to violence. In 2018, Jamie Roque, a 32-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot while ordering at a McDonald's drive-thru on Baymeadows Road, as reported by WJCT News. Her boyfriend, Rasheed Karreem, was later charged with her murder in what authorities described as a personal dispute, according to Action News Jax. This previous case highlights a concerning trend where minor altercations or personal conflicts quickly turn violent in public settings, a pattern the Jacksonville community continues to grapple with.
