NEW YORK — A man was arrested early Friday morning for “menacing” customers with an axe at a McDonald’s restaurant in New York.
Officers with the New York Police Department responded at around 2:30 a.m. to reports of a fight in the McDonald’s on the Lower East Side, WPIX reported.
Witnesses told police that the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Micahel Palacios, got into a fight with three men who have not been identified publicly and pulled an axe from his backpack, according to NBC News.
(WARNING: The video below contains graphic language some viewers may find offensive.)
Video of the 2-minute altercation has been shared across social media more than 14 million by Sunday morning.
At the end of the video, Palacios can be seen punching a patron, approaching several other people with the axe and then peddling off on his bicycle, the network reported.
Police confirmed to WPIX that Palacios is accused of swinging the axe, breaking tables, shattering glass and threatening the three men.
Palacios was charged with three counts of menacing, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal mischief, NBC News reported.
No injuries were reported by the victims, WPIX reported.
“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority,” McDonald’s restaurant owner-operator Paul Hendel told “Today” in a statement.
“We are shocked by these acts of violence committed in our restaurant, and we are cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation,” he added.
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