(AP) — TAMPA, Fla. — A manslaughter charge was lodged Friday against a Dunkin’ store employee accused of fatally punching a 77-year-old customer after the employee said the man used a racial slur against him several times.
Corey Pujols, 27, was arrested by Tampa police earlier this month. According to authorities, the victim, who has not been identified, was punched on May 4 and died three days later.
The man had been “particularly rude” the day of the punch, according to Pujols, and had called him a racial slur. Pujols, who is African-American, claims he questioned the man about the insult, which the 77-year-old repeated. Police did not go into detail about the slur.
According to a Tampa Police Department investigation, the victim fell backward and hit his head on the concrete floor after being punched. The man had a skull fracture and brain contusions, according to an autopsy.
The victim’s use of racial slurs was particularly offensive, according to the State Attorney’s Office, but inflammatory speech alone does not excuse abuse.
The franchisee who owns and runs the restaurant where the attack happened, according to Dunkin’, is completely cooperative with authorities.
Pujols is free on $15,000 bond. Attorneys for Pujols didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
