A 29-year-old man is accused of threatening to kill a woman and shoot her boyfriend inside an Oakland Park McDonald's, then fleeing on foot before deputies caught up with him a short distance away. Jerimiah Williams was later arrested after allegedly trying to signal the woman to follow him toward the bathroom, brushing against her, threatening to kill her and shoot her boyfriend, and showing the couple what they believed to be a black pistol.
According to deputies, the confrontation unfolded around 10 p.m. Saturday at the McDonald's located at 265 W. Oakland Park Blvd., as reported by WPLG Local 10. The victim told deputies she believed Williams continued to look at her because he was trying to flirt with or provoke the couple, and that he brushed against her before the situation escalated. Williams then threatened to kill her and threatened to shoot her boyfriend, deputies said.
Williams put down a military-style digital camo backpack during the encounter and showed the couple what they believed to be a black pistol, according to the outlet's account. Afterward, he walked outside the McDonald's. The couple instead called 911. Williams ran down Oakland Park Boulevard, and deputies arrested him a short distance away.
No Weapon Recovered, But Two Felony Counts Filed
Deputies searched Williams after his arrest and did not find a gun, per the same account. He nonetheless faces two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, along with a battery charge.
Florida law does not require that a weapon actually be recovered or that physical contact occur for an aggravated assault charge to stick. Under the statute, prosecutors only need to show an intentional threat, the apparent ability to carry it out, and a victim's reasonable fear of imminent violence while a deadly weapon is present, according to Musca Law. That distinction matters here, since deputies say the couple believed they saw a black pistol even though none was ultimately found on Williams.
Each aggravated assault count is a third-degree felony under Florida Statutes § 784.021, carrying a maximum of five years in state prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine, according to Online Sunshine. That means Williams could theoretically face up to a decade in prison across both felony counts alone. Notably, Florida removed aggravated assault from its “10-20-Life” mandatory minimum firearm sentencing framework back in 2016, so displaying or threatening with a firearm during an assault no longer triggers an automatic 10-year mandatory minimum, per the Brancato Law Firm.
Battery Charge Carries Its Own Penalties
Williams also faces a battery charge. Under the same statute, a battery charge can be reclassified as a third-degree felony carrying up to five years in prison if court records show a defendant has a prior battery conviction, though the dossier does not indicate whether that applies in Williams's case.
Williams was booked into the Broward Main Jail, an eight-story maximum-security facility in downtown Fort Lauderdale, according to the World Socialist Web Site. He was held on a $5,500 bond as of Monday.
A Corridor With Prior Disturbance Calls
A Corridor With Prior Disturbance Calls A separate report described a woman refusing to leave a McDonald's, but the available information does not establish that it was this Oakland Park location or when it occurred.
The restaurant is operated by franchisee Roderick L. Hagan, who runs four McDonald's locations across Broward County in Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, and Lauderhill, according to the Franchise Fast Track. Oakland Park has contracted its municipal law enforcement to the Broward Sheriff's Office since August 2000, covering the city's 8.04 square miles across 14 patrol zones, a policing arrangement Hoodline has previously detailed. BSO's police-services arrangement with Oakland Park is also described.
