Michigan Man, 67, Dies After Punch by Burger King Worker

[Fallguy]

Michigan Man, 67, Dies After Punch by Burger King Worker - FoxNews.com

Published December 10, 2010 | Associated Press

DETROIT -- Detroit police say a 20-year-old Burger King employee who was arguing with a customer punched the 67-year-old man, who fell and later died.

Police spokesman Yvette Walker says the older man was reportedly causing a disturbance Thursday afternoon at the restaurant on the city's east side, tried to hit the employee and the employee swung back. WJBK-TV reports police say the punch may have caused the elderly man to choke on his dentures.

The man died at a hospital. Walker says an autopsy will determine cause of death. Police say the employee was being held Friday and information would be submitted to prosecutors for review.

Burger King spokeswoman Denise Wilson said Friday that company officials were aware of the incident and the franchise owner was cooperating with police.

[daddyo]

Wow. Just wow.

[Guest clownsdd]

"tried to hit the employee" looks like self defense to me.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

"tried to hit the employee" looks like self defense to me.

Yup but the communist liberals up there probably wont see it that way.

[Guest drv2fst]

Yup but the communist liberals up there probably wont see it that way.

neither will the swarm of ambulance chasers looking to sue BK for an easy payday.

[Guest db99wj]

As it is written, sounds like the BK employee was defending himself, as mentioned, probably won't end well for him. Unfortunate situation for all involved, really no winners.

[Garufa]

That must have really been a big, strong, fast, threatening 67-year old for a 20-year old to feel a need to punch. Just sayin'. Of course we do not have all the details.

[vontar]

As it is written, sounds like the BK employee was defending himself, as mentioned, probably won't end well for him. Unfortunate situation for all involved, really no winners.

True. I am sure more information will come to light, both from employees and customers. I bet the stories told will be along those lines too, the employees will back the employee while the customers will back the customer. This is a time I hope the BK had a security camera that captured the entire event to help eliminate doubt.

[vontar]

That must have really been a big, strong, fast, threatening 67-year old for a 20-year old to feel a need to punch. Just sayin'. Of course we do not have all the details.

Well maybe he was in good phyical shape and had the grey dyed out of his hair and perhaps didn't look his age. I know some people about that age, that could probably hit pretty dam hard for a couple hits but I am sure that is all they would have in them as well.

[Guest Jamie]

That must have really been a big, strong, fast, threatening 67-year old for a 20-year old to feel a need to punch. Just sayin'. Of course we do not have all the details.

Aren't there a couple of stories around here concerning 80+ year old ex-marines wiping the floor with muggers and such?

[Guest drv2fst]

My dad's 61 and a former marine (i know, there is no such thing as former marine ...) with martial arts experience at a competitive level. I would not want to be the average 20 year old that took a swing at him (again). I tried that when I was 17 and in excellent shape (and also invincible). He was 37 with a beer belly and glasses. Oops. Wont make that mistake again. I might have miscalculated the advantage of youth.

[I_Like_Pie]

He got it his way, right away.

The Burger King way!

[7dogguy]

Michigan Man, 67, Dies After Punch by Burger King Worker - FoxNews.com

Published December 10, 2010 | Associated Press

DETROIT -- Detroit police say a 20-year-old Burger King employee who was arguing with a customer punched the 67-year-old man, who fell and later died.

Police spokesman Yvette Walker says the older man was reportedly causing a disturbance Thursday afternoon at the restaurant on the city's east side, tried to hit the employee and the employee swung back. WJBK-TV reports police say the punch may have caused the elderly man to choke on his dentures.

The man died at a hospital. Walker says an autopsy will determine cause of death. Police say the employee was being held Friday and information would be submitted to prosecutors for review.

Burger King spokeswoman Denise Wilson said Friday that company officials were aware of the incident and the franchise owner was cooperating with police.

Holy Whopper, Batman...this will be something to watch unfold/find out more about.

[Punisher84]

That must have really been a big, strong, fast, threatening 67-year old for a 20-year old to feel a need to punch. Just sayin'. Of course we do not have all the details.

Could have just been reflex, but like Jamie said there are plenty of older folks out there that aren't exactly soft.

[mav]

I don't see how you can comment either way without really knowing what transpired.

[Tncobra]

I guess the 67 year old didn't get it his way.

When I was 20 I would have swung back just by reaction.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Well apparently it has been ruled a homicide:

Mich. Burger King customer's death ruled homicide - Yahoo! News

And idk the specifics of Michigan law but unless your have advanced training in which your body is essential considered a weapon I dont know of any law saying if someone swings at you that you have to judge their relative threat to respond with similar force???

[vontar]

even that story appears to be self defense.

Carmela 16 minutes ago Report Abuse

This is a case of self defense. The young man did not plan on killing the old man. It is unfortunate that homicide charges were made. The old man swung first. The young man should not have his life ruined because he tried to defend himself. PROSECUTORS SHOULD SEE THAT THIS WAS SELF DEFENSE GONE BAD. What would happen if the young man died instead?

Replies (1)

[Guest bnoland]

Cause of death was blunt force trama. Unless the 20 yr old has been training with Chuck Liddell I seriously doubt he could get enough power to hit the guy once and cause blunt force trama to kill him. He may have fallen and hit his head on the floor or the 20 yr old may have hit him with something other than a fist or more than just once. We will never know what really happened, the only ones who will are the 20 yr old, and maybe the people who were there if they were paying attention unless some security video is available.

[NashvilleStage]

I think the headline is a typo. It sounds like the employee is being *charged* with homicide, not that he's been convicted of it.

[Guest Jamie]

A punch IS blunt force trauma. And I know plenty of untrained people who could give you a concussion or kill you simply by punching you.

All it takes is one solid "haymaker" to the side of the head, and somebody's in a world of hurt.

Again, we don't know the whole story, but don't be too quick to write it off as something it may not be.

[Guest bnoland]

A punch IS blunt force trauma. And I know plenty of untrained people who could give you a concussion or kill you simply by punching you.

All it takes is one solid "haymaker" to the side of the head, and somebody's in a world of hurt.

Again, we don't know the whole story, but don't be too quick to write it off as something it may not be.

Yes, it is but it would take a lot to kill someone with one punch and no other factors. Your average Joe will not be able to with one punch unless the person he is hitting already has an underlying problem. While a "haymaker" will put someone in a world of hurt, it is very unlikely that one will put them on ice. I would think if he did only hit the guy once and the guy fell then the guy had an underlying medical problem already or hit his head on the floor when he fell or a little of both.

[Guest Jamie]

The "underlying medical problem" was that the fellow was 67 years old, and more than likely had bones that were thinning, decalcifying, and becoming much more brittle.

In other words, he may have very well been acting like he was 20, with a body that simply wasn't up to the task.

Oh, and concerning punches... one of the guys I went to high school with got into a brawl on afternoon that resulted in just one solid punch to a fellow's chin. The end result was the punch-ee ended up in a coma for 2 days. Now, keep in mind that this was two healthy 17 year-olds, neither of which weighed more than 150-160 pounds, and neither of which had any real hand-to-hand training. ( They just seriously didn't like each other. )

The fact is, you hit a person in the head with anything - your hand included - there's a very real chance of serious injury or death, without any other outside factors at all. And the subject has been the focus of more than one thread concerning using a gun against someone who's otherwise unarmed, but using you for a punching bag.

[mav]

What ever happened with trying your best to difuse or remove yourself from a potential threatening situation? Isn't that what people like Massad Ayoob and others try to teach people, especially those that carry?

I am totally speculating here, but I don't think this is a case where some old codger got pissed that they left the pickles off of his whopper. He then went into a frenzied rage and tried to attack an employee. If this was the case, I don't think homicide charges would have been filed. My guess is that the old man was ticked about something and took his complaint to one of the employees. He was probably very animated. Instead of trying to calm the situation, the employee probably verbally pushed back. The article even stated that there was a verbal altercation which escalated into a physical one. If someone gets in your face and calls you a c**ksucker doesn't mean you have to respond back in kind. Just sayin.

I could be totally off base with my speculation, but there has to be more to it if homicide charges were filed. Overall, its a sad story.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

I agree it is a sad situation. However I see this thread going like the "old guy with the derringer thread" a little while back. Fact is the old guy shouldnt have taken a swing if he did and expect not to get a swing back. Now if the young guy went to town on him it would be a different situation. (Note this my personal opinion and should be taken as such),