A Nashville Chick-fil-A employee’s last day on the job ended with a trip to jail after coworkers told police she threatened to “shoot up” the restaurant and mimed firing a gun in the kitchen, according to investigators. Staff said the comments were made while she was working her final shift, and the store manager contacted police, who later sought an arrest warrant based on an affidavit.
According to WSMV, the affidavit identifies the employee as Amber Turner and describes her as a “disgruntled employee.” Multiple coworkers told officers Turner pointed her hand “like a gun” in their faces and said she would “shoot up the place” on March 18, the document states. Police say some employees were named as possible targets, although those individuals declined to press charges. Turner was ultimately charged with a threat to commit an act of mass violence.
What Tennessee Law Says
Tennessee has, in recent years, moved to spell out and expand crimes tied to threats of mass violence. Under state law, “mass violence” is defined as conduct that a reasonable person would believe could cause serious injury or death to two or more people. Courts are allowed to order mental health evaluations and set other conditions as part of pretrial release or sentencing in such cases. For the statutory language and related provisions, see Justia.
Police Response and Next Steps
Investigators interviewed Chick-fil-A employees one by one, and the affidavit says officers determined there was probable cause based on their statements. “Police found probable cause to seek a warrant for the defendant's arrest,” the document notes, according to WSMV. Turner was taken into custody on the mass-violence threat charge, and the case is now set to move through the Davidson County criminal process, with future hearings and any additional steps to be scheduled on the court docket.
What It Means
The charge against Turner is treated as a serious offense under Tennessee law because it involves an alleged threat of widespread harm, even though, according to the affidavit, no actual firearm was displayed. Prosecutors can move forward in cases like this without a private victim filing charges, and judges have tools such as evaluations and tailored release conditions that are designed to protect the public while the case is pending. Metro police and local prosecutors will handle the next phase as the matter plays out in court.
