LODI, Calif. — A routine Monday morning at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Joaquin County turned into a terrifying shooting scene after a worker allegedly entered the restaurant with a semi-automatic pistol and opened fire.
Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Jonhatan Anguiano, who entered the restaurant around 9:30 a.m. and fired multiple shots.
One of the bullets struck a female employee, leaving her injured and triggering a rapid response from Lodi Police Department officers.
Investigators have not yet established what led to the shooting. The motive remains unclear as authorities continue investigating what happened inside the restaurant before the gunfire erupted.
Police later released a surveillance image showing Anguiano wearing what appeared to be an employee uniform along with a long black sleeve covering his right arm shortly before the deadly confrontation with officers.
Female Employee Injured in Restaurant Shooting
When officers arrived at the McDonald’s, they encountered the injured female employee inside the restaurant. She was quickly taken to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities said she is currently in stable condition.
The shooting caused panic among people who were inside or near the restaurant at the time. One witness, Cheryl Marie Steneck, said she was using the drive-thru when she suddenly heard gunshots coming from inside the restaurant.
“I was in the drive-thru at the cashier window when the shots were fired,” Steneck said. “I heard 4 shots being fired inside. Scary times.”
Her account highlights how quickly an ordinary morning at the restaurant turned into a dangerous situation for employees and customers nearby.
Suspect Opens Fire at Responding Police Officer
The confrontation escalated after officers moved in on Anguiano. According to police, the suspect opened fire at a responding officer as officers closed in on him. That gunfire prompted officers to return fire.
“The suspect was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene,” the Lodi Police Department said.
The shooting therefore ended with Anguiano being fatally shot by police. Authorities have not indicated that any responding officer was injured during the exchange.
The incident is now being examined by investigators as they work to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine what prompted Anguiano to allegedly target his co-worker and fire at police.
Lodi Community Reacts to McDonald’s Shooting
The shooting has shaken the small Lodi community, where residents were alarmed to see a major police response around the restaurant.
Lodi City Councilmember Cameron Bregman, who lives about a block from the McDonald’s, described the incident as both alarming and unacceptable.
“Lodi is a very small town, and so there’s about four or five stories already circling,” Bregman told KCRA. “The best thing I can do is let the police do the work and let the police release the reports.”
His comments came as residents waited for authorities to provide verified information about the shooting amid early reports and speculation circulating throughout the community.
Officials are urging people to rely on information released by investigators as the case develops.
Investigation Into Shooting Remains Ongoing
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office is leading a multi-agency investigation into the shooting.
Investigators are expected to examine surveillance footage, witness accounts and other evidence collected from the restaurant as they work to establish exactly what happened.
Police are also asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information that could help investigators to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact Lodi Police Detective Blythe at 209-333-5545.
The injured employee remains hospitalized in stable condition, while investigators continue working to determine why the shooting happened and what led to the deadly confrontation between Anguiano and police.
As the investigation continues, authorities are asking witnesses to provide any information they may have that could help establish the full timeline of the incident.
What do you think about this shocking shooting at a California McDonald’s? Share your thoughts in the comments.
