An early-morning argument in a West Colonial Drive Checkers drive-thru has now turned into a criminal case, with deputies arresting a former employee accused of opening fire on a customer. The Orange County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Shameka Williams, who was taken into custody on Monday on counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle. An arrest report says surveillance video shows a customer hurling a cup at Williams before she leans out of the service window and fires toward his car. No injuries were reported.
Arrest and charges
According to WESH, detectives reviewed the restaurant's surveillance footage and arrest report before booking Williams. Deputies charged her with aggravated assault with a gun and shooting into an occupied vehicle, and investigators noted a mark left near the victim's car after the shot. WESH also reported that Williams had already been fired from the Checkers following the January confrontation. The arrest came more than three months after that early-morning incident.
Video and investigation
Deputies first responded to the Checkers around 3:20 a.m. on Jan. 4, when a man in his 30s told investigators an argument with a drive-thru worker ended with a shot being fired at his vehicle, as first reported by FOX 35 Orlando. That outlet and other local coverage stated the car was struck near its charging port as the driver pulled away. Hoodline initially covered the dispute in its story Gunfire Erupts at Winter Garden, which also noted that nobody was hurt.
Not an isolated episode
The West Colonial Drive case is not the first violent flare-up tied to a Central Florida Checkers. Last year in Kissimmee, deputies say a dispute over a food order ended when an employee allegedly shot and killed a customer, a situation that led to a first-degree murder charge, according to WFTV. The string of incidents has added fuel to local worries about how quickly routine fast-food arguments can spiral when firearms are present. In recent months, community leaders and law enforcement have repeatedly cited these cases while pushing conversations about de-escalation strategies and better employee training.
Legal context
Under Florida law, aggravated assault is a third-degree felony as defined in Florida Statutes §784.021. Firing at or into an occupied vehicle is treated more harshly and is charged as a second-degree felony under §790.19. Prosecutors can also pursue enhanced mandatory minimum sentences if a firearm is used, under Florida's "10-20-Life" sentencing scheme laid out in §775.087. If Williams is convicted, the felony degrees and any firearm-use enhancements will factor heavily into her potential prison time.
What happens next
Williams is expected to be arraigned on the charges and will return to court as the case progresses. Local reporting indicates detectives made the arrest after reviewing both the surveillance footage and the arrest report, and officials say the investigation remains active. This story will be updated as prosecutors file formal charges or the sheriff's office releases additional details.
