A Monday morning trip to McDonald’s in Lodi turned into a violent scene when police shot and killed a suspect who had already wounded an employee. The incident unfolded around 9:30 a.m. at the restaurant on West Lodi Avenue and Church Street. Authorities say they responded to a disturbance call, and upon arrival, discovered an employee had been shot. Officers then heard additional gunshots and screaming from inside the building, prompting them to enter and engage the suspect. The gunman, identified as 29-year-old Jonhatan Anguiano, was killed in the officer-involved shooting. The female employee is currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
Witnesses, including drive-thru customer Cheryl Steneck, described the terror of the moment. She told reporters that she and another customer looked at each other and agreed to pray. Moments later, she heard four gunshots ring out. Steneck admitted,“I was scared to death.”Two nearby elementary schools initiated brief lockdowns during the incident as a safety measure, but both have since been cleared and resumed normal operations.
The Lodi Police Department is now coordinating with the San Joaquin County DA’s Office, which is leading the investigation, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. Corporal William Hinton, a department spokesperson, emphasized that the incident appears isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the public. As the community processes this event, the focus will remain on the victim’s recovery and the full review of the circumstances that led to the shooting. What steps do you think fast-food restaurants should take, if any, to improve safety for their employees? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
