Maurice A. Leonard, 51, was charged after an incident at a south-side McDonald’s in which he allegedly threatened to shoot people inside, prompting employees to clear customers from the restaurant. He remains jailed without bond following the Nov. 6 incident.
The incident occurred in the 4600 block of South Kingshighway Boulevard in the Bevo neighborhood, according to FOX 2, citing a police probable cause statement. Police allege Leonard became angry about his food order, then threatened to shoot people inside the restaurant.
Employees Clear the Restaurant as Threats Continue
According to police, employees ushered customers out after Leonard made the threats. The probable cause statement says he stayed inside and continued making threats while staff worked to clear the restaurant.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Leonard with second-degree making a terrorist threat, FOX 2 reported. He remains jailed without bond as the case proceeds. The charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt.
What the Charge and National Data Mean
The Missouri Revisor of Statutes defines second-degree making a terrorist threat to include knowingly communicating a threat involving danger to life while recklessly disregarding the risk of causing an evacuation or closure. The statute classifies the offense as a class E felony; the charge against Leonard remains an accusation, not a finding of guilt. The FBI’s 20-Year Review counted 96 active-shooter incidents in businesses open to pedestrian traffic, a category that includes restaurants. That national figure concerns active-shooter incidents, not a reported verbal threat such as the one alleged in this case.
No Word Yet on Next Court Date
Online records do not indicate when Leonard will next appear in court, per the same account. No additional details about the case have been released.
