Crime & Safety
Terroristic Threats Charge Filed In McDonald's Incident
Video from the incident at the Eden Prairie McDonald's location has since been viewed more than 2 million times.
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN — An Eden Prairie man was charged with felony-level terroristic threats in connection with pulling a gun on a group of teenagers at a McDonald’s (598 Prairie Center Drive). Lloyd Edward Johnson, 55, was also charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, a gross misdemeanor.
“Mr. Johnson did everything he could to provoke this incident, by insulting the young lady in front of him, to confronting a second person and finally pulling a gun after he already had moved away from the confrontation,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a statement.
“While he is innocent until proven guilty, this is outrageous behavior and it is only through sheer luck that no one was injured by his actions.”
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Viewer advisory: Video contains vulgar language and may be disturbing
@McDonalds is this what you stand for? We were just trying to order when this man said racist remarks, claimed to be touched (when really he pushed a kid as seen on video) pulled a gun out on kids and you still kick us out knowing we’re in danger? 1/2 pic.twitter.com/3vKXsxhuwH
— farida (@snatchingedgess) November 20, 2018
According to the criminal complaint, police spoke to two young women on Nov. 19, who said they were attempting to pay for their food with a digital app, but it was not working. Johnson was behind them and he told them to hurry up and then said “you were probably trying to pay with EBT.”
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An Electronic Benefit Transfer card is used to transfer federal government benefits to stores that accept the benefits.
One of the women turned and answered him back. Johnson then approached the other woman, said some things to her and balled his hand into a fist, making her fear he was going to hit her, according to police.
The first woman then went into the dining area to get some of their friends. The friends began to say things to Johnson, the complaint states.
A witness said Johnson broke away from the group but returned seconds later with his cell phone, appearing to record the argument. He then told everyone to back up and pulled his handgun from his waistband before walking out the door, according to the complaint.
When police interviewed him, Johnson admitted he did make the comment about EBT and that was insulting. He also admitted he did not have a permit to carry a firearm, according to the complaint.
Police recovered a STYR M40 semi-automatic handgun from Johnson with a magazine loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition.
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