Customer Accused Of Pointing Gun At Starbucks Employee

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- A Bartow County man has been charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly brandished a firearm in a Starbucks drive-thru during a disagreement over the price of coffee.

Ray Hunter Shortridge, 59, of White, was booked into the Bartow County Jail Tuesday on charges of aggravated assault, possession of schedule II and drugs to be kept in original container, jail records show.

Officers were dispatched to Starbucks at 605 East Main Street around 5:15 p.m. Nov. 14 and met with an employee, who recounted the incident to police.

The employee said Shortridge pulled up to the drive-thru speaker and ordered a refill of his Starbucks coffee cup. The employee told the customer that the total would be $2.25.

That didn't sit well with Shortridge, who said the total should be $1.50, according to an incident report released by the Cartersville Police Department.

The employee told police he explained the store policy to the customer, who allegedly responded by saying, "We will see about that once I get up there."

"Once Mr. Shortridge pulled up to the window, he had an unknown type polished pistol with an unknown gold engraving on the slide in his right hand," the incident report states. "Mr. Shortridge's finger was on the trigger and stated that, 'The price would be $1.50, correct?'"

According to the officer who compiled the report, Shortridge was tapping the firearm on his chest while making the statement. The gun's muzzle was "pointed in the direction of the drive-thru window" where the employee was stationed.

The employee repeated the price of $2.50, and told police he explained the store's policy on refill cups. He also said he asked the customer to "take his finger off the trigger due to a safety concern."

The employee then begin to record the counter on his cell phone due to Shortridge's actions.

"Mr. Shortridge was heard in the recording describing the firearm as a 45 long slide with a 6 inch barrel," the report states, adding that when he was asked to remove his finger from the trigger, Shortridge stated "the gun was unloaded and the gun would blow him right away."

Shortridge eventually left the drive-thru window, and the employee was able to capture the man's tag number displayed on the vehicle.

Two other employees confirmed to police that they also saw the firearm, with one saying Monday was "not the first incident that Mr. Shortridge has showed up to the window with a firearm at the window."

Shortridge was booked into the Bartow County Jail early Tuesday evening. It's unclear if he's posted bond or if he remains at the facility.

Image via Bartow County Jail