A Florida teenager is behind bars after allegedly threatening to shoot up a local McDonald’s—three times—because the restaurant forgot to include his chicken McNuggets, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Dayton Schaffer, 18, was arrested on Monday after police responded to a report from the manager of a McDonald’s in North Lakewood.
The manager told authorities that a caller had made multiple violent threats after a mistake in his food order. According to the sheriff’s office, Schaffer placed three separate calls around 11:30 p.m., during which he used explicit language and threatened to “shoot this s**t up” over the missing McNuggets.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared details of the arrest in a pun-filled video posted to the department’s official Facebook page. “This guy acted like a McNut,” Judd said with a smirk. “So this McNut didn’t get his McNuggets from McDonald’s, so he calls three times.
On three different occasions, he threatens to shoot the place up. He uses all kinds of foul language.” Judd went on to say that the restaurant manager tried to de-escalate the situation during the first call by offering to correct the order if Schaffer returned. However, the threats continued with two additional calls shortly afterward, as told to The Independent.
“He used his McPhone to make a McThreat to McDonald’s,” Judd joked. “His actual phone number. So it was a slow McPitch for us to make a McArrest.” Detectives tracked down Schaffer, who reportedly admitted to making the threatening calls. He claimed he was upset over the incorrect order and insisted the threats were meant as a joke, the sheriff’s office said.
“Anyways, he’s in the McJail,” Judd concluded in the viral video, which has since gained significant attention on social media. Schaffer now faces two serious charges: one count of making a false report concerning the use of a firearm, a second-degree felony under Florida law, and one count of misuse of a two-way communication device, which is considered a third-degree felony.
The incident has sparked concern and ridicule in equal measure, highlighting how seemingly minor disputes can escalate into serious legal consequences, especially when threats of violence are involved. While no one was harmed in the incident, authorities are warning the public that threats—whether meant seriously or not—will not be taken lightly, particularly in today’s heightened climate of public safety.