Hallandale Beach, FL - A 65-year-old man has been arrested after assaulting a female customer with a milk crate at a South Florida 7-Eleven last year.
According to authorities, 65-year-old Kirk Francis Russell was arrested on Tuesday on a felony battery charge in connection with the assault that occurred on July 28th, 2022 at the 7-Eleven located at 722 Atlantic Shores Blvd in Hallandale Beach.
Police say the incident began when Russell voiced dissatisfaction with the chicken he had chosen from the store, telling a cashier that it was "hard."
The store cashier disagreed, stating that the chicken was fresh and jokingly mentioned that Russell was "hurting her feelings."
In response, Russell apologized.
However, the situation took a turn when the cashier commented on another food item, saying, "I don't know about that beef patty though."
A woman standing in line, later identified as the victim, joined in the banter and told Russell: "Oh, oh, you're gonna have to take a chance with that meat patty."
Russell, in response, turned to the woman and made a hurtful comment about her weight.
The exchange escalated, with the woman calling Russell an [expletive] in retaliation.
Russell questioned why she was calling him names, to which she responded that since he called her fat, she was calling him an [expletive].
The exchange triggered a verbal confrontation, with Russell threatening to return to fight the woman after dropping off groceries at his mother's house.
Russell left the store, only to return moments later, armed with a plastic milk crate, and confronted the woman in the parking lot, shouting, "let's fight."
Russell then assaulted the woman with the plastic crate, striking her on the forehead and her right wrist as she attempted to shield herself.
The victim cried out in pain, which further incensed Russell.
He struck her two more times with the crate, hitting her left arm and knocking her phone out of her hand when she attempted to use it.
After the attack, Russell fled the scene before the arrival of law enforcement.
The woman suffered a wrist fracture, bruising on her arm, and a lump on her forehead as a result of the assault.