An employee of a Tampa Bay area Dunkin Donuts has been sentenced to 2 years of house arrest after punching and killing a 77-year-old customer who had used a racial slur against him.
The Dunkin' employee Corey Pujols, 27, pleaded guilty to felony battery and was sentenced on Monday to 2 years of house arrest as well as 200 hours of community service. Pujols will also be required to attend an anger management course.
According to Fox 13, Investigators said that the victim, 77-year-old Vonelle Cook, had gone through the drive-thru and was angry about the lack of service. He then parked his car and walked into the restaurant, yelling about customer service.
The store employees said Cook frequented this Dunkin location often and was constantly a nuisance.
When Cook walked into the restaurant on May 5, 2021, he was reportedly very aggressive towards the employees, including Pujols, who asked Cook to leave the restaurant. Cook responded by calling Pujols, who is black, a 'N*****.' After being asked not to say that again and repeating the slur, Pujols responded by punching Vonelle Cook in the jaw, knocking him to the floor. Cook died three days later.
Read more at Fox 13 Tampa Bay.