Charlotte Wendy’s Employee Arrested After Shooting Homeless Man in Head Over Soda

Charlotte Wendy’s Employee Arrested After Shooting Homeless Man in Head Over Soda

An altercation outside a Wendy’s in Charlotte has left a 31-year-old man, Alejandro Ramirez Santos, shot in the head after a confrontation with a Wendy’s employee over a soda. The shooting occurred on January 2, 2025, when Santos was shot by 22-year-old Wendy’s employee Malayzia Lee following a dispute that began over a drink.

Dispute Escalates to Violence

According to court documents obtained by The North Carolina Beat, Charlotte officers were flagged down while patrolling the area on Eastway Dr., near Wendy’s at 2933 Eastway Dr. Upon arriving, officers found Santos with a gunshot wound to his head. Santos, who was reportedly driving when the shooting happened, initially told investigators that he heard glass break and felt blood pouring from his head.

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However, an investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a series of confrontations inside the Wendy’s restaurant. The store manager told officers that Santos, a homeless man, entered the restaurant and requested free food. After the manager provided him with a cup of water, Santos allegedly used the cup to fill up with soda instead. When Santos went to the restroom, the manager discarded the cup.

The Altercation That Led to the Shooting

Santos became upset when he discovered his cup had been thrown out. He allegedly went to the parking lot, found another cup, and returned to the store to fill it with soda once again. The altercation escalated when Santos threw the soda at both Malayzia Lee, who was sitting in the restaurant, and the manager.

According to court documents, Lee, in response to the incident, went to her car, retrieved a gun, and returned to the store. She chased Santos outside and fired three shots at him, one of which struck Santos in the head while he was driving.

Lee has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and discharging a firearm into occupied property. She remains in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail under a $250,000 secured bond.

The victim, Santos, survived the shooting.