Sarasota man shot by deputy after McDonald’s drive-thru gunfire, standoff

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – A Sarasota man is recovering in the hospital after being shot by a Sarasota County deputy following a standoff early Sunday morning, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said the incident began at a McDonald’s restaurant drive-thru, when the suspect opened fire before leading deputies to his home.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office identified the gunman as 39-year-old Casey King.

Witness Ana Hernandez said she and her husband were sitting in the McDonald’s drive-thru talking about what to order when the situation changed.

“He lowered his gun, drifted to the three cars and slid it over, and then eventually pointed it at my husband’s truck,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said King got out of his car with a gun, and she then heard shots.

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“Nobody did anything to him. Nobody honked at him. Nobody yelled at him. Nobody did anything to get this reaction out of him, or anyone,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez and her husband called 911 and followed King long enough to get his license plate number, then turned around when dispatch told them to return to the McDonald’s and stay safe.

Deputies tracked King to a home on Hoyer Drive, where he did not come out despite being ordered to multiple times, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“He ended up shooting through the front door at least five to six times, and a single deputy returned fire, hitting Mr. King,” said Doug Johnson, public information officer for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is active and King is in the hospital. He faces multiple counts of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer.

ABC7 reached out to McDonald’s about what happened in the drive-thru. The company has not responded.