Prosecutors in Indiana have announced that no criminal charges will be filed following the death of a 75-year-old customer after an altercation at a Tim Hortons.
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Anita Grayson died after a confrontation involving employees at the Fort Wayne restaurant on May 13.
Her death prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether anyone could face criminal responsibility.
On Friday, Allen County prosecutors concluded their review and determined that the evidence did not support filing charges against any of the employees involved.
Tim Hortons Altercation Ended With Customer Collapsing
Grayson arrived at the Fort Wayne Tim Hortons shortly after 8 a.m. on May 13.
According to investigators, a disagreement involving her drive-thru order eventually continued inside the restaurant, where a 20-year-old manager asked Grayson to leave.
The situation became physical after a shift supervisor allegedly made contact with Grayson.
Investigators said Grayson responded by striking and pushing the employee "hard enough to leave scratches and send her glasses flying."
Another manager then intervened and pushed Grayson away from her colleague, prompting a physical struggle between the two women.
During the confrontation, both fell to the floor and the employee reportedly had a chunk of hair pulled from her head.
Once the altercation ended, Grayson sat down at a table and made a phone call.
Approximately 10 minutes later, she suddenly collapsed inside the restaurant.
Paramedics performed "lifesaving measures" at the scene before rushing Grayson to a hospital, where she later died.
Prosecutors Rule Out Criminal Charges
The Allen County Coroner's Office determined that Grayson died from an "acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure in the setting of physical altercation."
Officials initially left the manner of death undetermined while investigators considered whether to classify it as natural, accidental or a homicide.
Prosecutors have now declined to pursue criminal charges, concluding that the manager acted in defense of her colleague.
"Grayson's escalation to striking [the manager] in the face was not a proportionate or justified response to being touched on the shoulders," investigators said.
"As a matter of law, it is Grayson's blow, not [the manager's] earlier contact that started the altercation."
Investigators added that the manager's actions "did not exceed what the ongoing struggle reasonably called for."
The manager's intervention was "independently justified as defense of a third person."
Prosecutors ultimately determined that the available evidence would not allow them to establish criminal liability beyond a reasonable doubt, meaning the case will move forward without charges.
