McDonald’s worker allegedly shoots colleague during morning shift in California. Then opens fire on responding police

A shocking burst of violence disrupted the morning at a California fast-food restaurant when an employee allegedly opened fire on a co-worker before being shot and killed by a responding police officer. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. at the McDonald’s at 200 W. Lodi Ave. in Lodi, California.

The gunman was identified as 29-year-old employee Jonathan Anguiano. He allegedly entered the restaurant with a semi-automatic pistol and fired multiple shots, injuring a female co-worker.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with one customer reporting hearing four shots inside the restaurant. Lodi police arrived shortly afterward, and as officers moved in, Anguiano allegedly opened fire at them.

He allegedly turned his gun toward the officers and opened fire

The female McDonald’s employee was hit multiple times during the initial shooting. As she collapsed, emergency dispatchers began receiving calls about an active shooter inside the restaurant. The Lodi Police Department headquarters is only a few blocks from the West Lodi Avenue area, allowing first responders to reach the scene within minutes.

When officers entered the restaurant, they found Anguiano still armed with the semi-automatic pistol. Police ordered him to drop the weapon and surrender, but he allegedly turned the gun toward the officers and opened fire.

According to the California Post, an officer in the line of fire returned shots, hitting Anguiano multiple times. Emergency medical technicians who had been waiting nearby rushed inside to treat the victims, but Anguiano was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were physically injured in the exchange of gunfire.

Medical personnel then turned their attention to the wounded employee. She was stabilized at the scene and taken by ambulance to a regional trauma center. Hospital officials later confirmed that, despite the severity of her injuries, she survived surgery and was listed in stable condition.

According to KCRA, Lodi City Councilmember Cameron Bregman urged residents to wait for official information rather than the rumors already making their way around the small town. The councilmember said:

“Lodi is a very small town, and so there’s about four or five stories already circling. Right. The best thing I can do is let the police do the work and let the police release the reports. Because, again, every single word matters. And these officers don’t have to just be accurate when they’re having a firearm. Right. They have to be accurate, in their words, and abiding by the law and the release of information.”

With Anguiano dead, investigators are now trying to figure out what led to the shooting. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office has taken over the investigation, as is standard in officer-involved shootings in the region. Investigators are working with Lodi Police detectives as they piece together what happened.

The investigation is still ongoing

Detectives are reviewing interior surveillance footage and speaking with employees who witnessed the moments before the gunfire. So far, authorities have not said what may have motivated the shooting or whether Anguiano had an ongoing dispute with the co-worker.

The shooting has left the small Lodi community shaken. The McDonald’s remained closed while crime scene technicians documented the restaurant and processed the evidence left behind.