A McDonald’s employee in California armed himself with a semi-automatic pistol and opened fire inside the restaurant Monday morning, wounding a female colleague before police responded and fatally shot him during an exchange of gunfire with officers.

Morning Violence at Fast Food Restaurant

Jonhatan Anguiano, 29, entered the McDonald’s location in San Joaquin County around 9:30 a.m. wearing his employee uniform with a distinctive long black sleeve on his right arm. Surveillance footage captured his final moments before the deadly confrontation. He fired multiple rounds inside the restaurant, striking a female coworker before officers from the Lodi Police Department arrived at the scene. The injured woman was found by responding officers and immediately transported to a local hospital, where she remains in stable condition.

When police closed in on Anguiano, he turned his weapon on law enforcement and opened fire on an officer. Police returned fire, striking the suspect. Anguiano was pronounced dead at the scene. The Lodi Police Department confirmed the sequence of events but noted that investigators have not yet determined what motivated Anguiano to carry out the workplace shooting. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office now leads a multi-agency investigation into the incident.

Community Shaken by Workplace Attack

Witnesses described moments of terror as gunshots rang out during the morning rush. Cheryl Marie Steneck was waiting at the drive-through cashier window when she heard four distinct shots fired inside the building. The small community of Lodi, unaccustomed to such violence, struggled to process the morning’s events. City Councilmember Cameron Bregman, who lives just one block from the McDonald’s, called the shooting both unacceptable and alarming for residents. He acknowledged that multiple rumors were already circulating through the tight-knit community but emphasized the importance of allowing investigators to complete their work.

Investigation Continues

Authorities are working to piece together what led to the workplace violence. The surveillance photo released by police shows Anguiano moments before the fatal confrontation, providing investigators with critical evidence about his movements and state of mind. Lodi police have urged anyone who witnessed the shooting or possesses information about the incident to contact Detective Blythe directly. The investigation remains active as officials examine the relationship between Anguiano and his female coworker, workplace dynamics, and any warning signs that may have preceded the attack. The case highlights ongoing concerns about workplace safety and violence prevention in public-facing service industry positions.