There are a select few of us in the world that enjoy going to work, but most of know that in order to survive, we must. And in doing so it means committing to the job and doing what your managers ask of you, within reason. A manager at a McDonald’s in Belleville, Illinois, probably never thought a request of her teen employee would result in her arrest.
The manager, 44-year-old Kathy Bledsoe, asked her teenage employee to take out the trash. When she refused, Bledsoe told her she could clock out for the day. Instead the teen called her mom, 35-year-old Tynika McKinzie. The mom showed up at the fast-food restaurant where the Bellville Police department said a “verbal disturbance ensued.”
Then, McKinzie went into Bledsoe’s office and allegedly attacked Bledsoe, hitting her in the head and face. As the fight escalated, Bledsoe then allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired a shot into the mom’s leg. The wounded woman was taken to hospital to be treated for her injuries while police took Bledsoe into custody.
Police charged Bledsoe with “aggravated unlawful use of a weapon” and McKinzie with aggravated battery and mob action.
“It is unfortunate that this incident occurred,” the Belleville Police Department stated on Facebook alongside Bledsoe’s mugshot. “It seems individuals are quick to resort to violence to resolve disputes without consideration of the impact their actions have on the community as a whole.”
“This was an unnecessary incident that could have been mitigated without punches being thrown or a gun being used,” the department continued. “BPD will continue to work with community members to ensure individuals who wish to handle disputes in this manner are held accountable.”
The post drew some ire from community members, who say Bledsoe was just “defending herself.”
“What am I missing?” one reader wondered. “By the account given, Bledsoe was rightfully defending herself against multiple people. Sounds like the SA needs to reconsider.”
