Dunkin’ employee faces manslaughter charge for punching elderly man over racial slur confrontation who later died

The elderly man who got punched by Dunkin’ employee in an incident over racial slur on May 6^th died. The Dunkin’ employee, 27-year-old Corey Pujols, is now facing manslaughter charge for the death of the customer.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on May 6^th at the Dunkin’ store located in a gas station at Tampa, Florida. The 77-year-old customer got upset about the service at the store while waiting his order in his car at the drive-thru.

Pujols, who was also listed as a store manager, got angry and asked the customer to leave. Instead, the elderly man parked his car next to the store and went inside the building.

Pujols said that he knew the customer as he was their regular. But that day for some reason he was extremely rude and unpolite. According to official police statement, Pujols, who is black, said the customer called him a racial slur. The customer allegedly repeated the racial slur once again, but the specific slur was not included in the report.

The employee became furious instantly and he punched the customer in his face. As a result of the punch, the man fell on the ground hitting his head on the floor.

Pujols called 911 and officers were on the scene in a matter of minute. When first responders arrived on the scene, they found the elderly man laying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. The man was immediately transferred to a local hospital for treatment.

Unfortunately, the man died two days after the incident.

An autopsy showed the man had a skull fracture and brain contusions as a result of blunt trauma. A Hillsborough Medical Examiner’s Office doctor reportedly ruled the death a homicide.

Police arrested Pujols the night of the incident and he was released the next day after posting $2,000 bail. But following the death of the customer, Pujols was arrested once again this time, on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a person older than 65.

A surveillance video was also part of the police report. According to the report, the video clearly shows that the customer didn’t touch Pujols. The video also recorded the part when Pujols hit the customer and how the elderly man hit the back of his head on the floor.

Victim’s identity was not revealed due to a 2018 amendment to the state Constitution that protects the identities of victims.

We will update the story with more details when available.