Five Burger King employees were arrested after a fight inside the restaurant on Deans Bridge Road escalated Thursday afternoon, Jan. 22, when one worker pointed a gun at another during a dispute over two co-workers arriving late, authorities said.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said multiple units and EMS responded to the fast-food location after a report of shots fired. Deputies arrived to find several employees fighting; no gunfire was confirmed. Franchise officials terminated the workers after the incident, calling the behavior unacceptable. The case highlights how a workplace argument quickly drew a large police response at a busy corridor south of downtown, prompted an immediate staffing shake-up and could lead to court appearances for the young adults involved as charges move forward in municipal and county systems.
Deputies were called to 3407 Deans Bridge Road around the afternoon rush when a melee broke out among employees, according to the sheriff’s office. The disturbance began after two workers showed up late for their shifts and tensions boiled over in the kitchen and front counter areas. “Although no shots were fired, multiple employees were fighting upon deputies’ arrival,” the sheriff’s office said in a brief update, adding that “one employee did have a gun that he was pointing at another person.” The scuffle drew a sizable law enforcement presence and temporarily disrupted operations at the restaurant while investigators collected statements and reviewed available video from inside the business.
Authorities said five employees — ages 17 to 20 — were taken to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on disorderly conduct charges after the scene was secured. The workers were identified by officials as Malcolm Collier, 19; Devin Lewis, 17; Octavione Collier, 19; Kailah Davis, 18; and Anaja Kelly, 20. Deputies said no one claimed ownership of the handgun and the moment when it was allegedly pointed was not captured on store surveillance video. Because of that, no weapons charges were filed at the time. A franchise spokesperson said those involved were fired and emphasized that such conduct is not part of company training or expectations. No serious injuries were reported, and EMS cleared the scene after evaluating participants.
The Burger King sits along a high-traffic strip of Deans Bridge Road near apartment complexes, small shops and other fast-food outlets. Witnesses said patrol cars converged on the parking lot as employees spilled into the lobby area and officers moved quickly to separate combatants. By evening, crime-scene tape was gone, but customers described lingering signs of the chaos — chairs moved aside and a dusting of cleaning powder near the counter. The sheriff’s office said deputies canvassed for external camera footage from nearby businesses to supplement the restaurant’s interior video, which did not fully capture the sequence in which the gun was displayed. Investigators also logged statements from managers and bystanders who saw parts of the fight.
Officials described the case as a workplace altercation that escalated into a public disturbance. Deputies said the initial call referenced possible gunfire, which triggered a larger response from multiple units until the scene could be stabilized. The five arrested workers were processed at the Webster detention center and later released on conditions common to disorderly conduct cases; exact court dates had not yet been posted. The restaurant reopened with a smaller crew, and franchise leaders said they were seeking replacement staff. No additional arrests were announced, and the sheriff’s office did not indicate any ongoing threat to the public tied to the incident.
Augusta has seen periodic large-response calls at busy corridors where restaurants cluster, but officials said a brawl that starts with internal scheduling disputes remains unusual. Deputies noted that late arrivals and shift-change friction are typically handled by management; in this case, investigators said the argument jumped quickly from words to pushing, then to broader fighting. Any future penalties will depend on court outcomes and whether prosecutors pursue upgraded counts if new evidence emerges, such as clearer footage or credible witness accounts of the weapon display. For now, the known charges focus on disorderly conduct and the disruption inside the business.
From a procedural standpoint, the case now moves into routine steps: the sheriff’s office forwards reports to prosecutors, who decide whether to keep the disorderly conduct counts as cited or amend them. Defense lawyers could seek dismissals or plea agreements based on the lack of video confirming the weapons allegation. If prosecutors believe they have enough independent witness testimony, they could still add counts related to brandishing a firearm, though officials offered no indication that such charges were imminent. The franchise has handled its internal review and staffing changes, and corporate representatives said they will monitor the matter while cooperating with authorities.
Customers who arrived after deputies cleared the scene said the dining room looked subdued. A nearby shop employee said the parking lot was crowded with patrol cars “all at once” and then quiet again within an hour. Inside, workers placed a “Now Hiring” notice by the front door the next day as managers reworked the schedule. A frequent drive-thru customer said staff members appeared rattled but were serving orders normally. Some residents shared relief that no shots were fired; others expressed concern that a handgun was present during a busy afternoon when families and students often stop for meals.
As of Friday, the five former employees faced disorderly conduct counts tied to the Jan. 22 fight while investigators reviewed statements and any additional video. No further updates on potential weapons charges had been announced, and the next milestone is the scheduling of initial court appearances in Richmond County.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.