'It Is My Pleasure to Serve Shoot You' May 13, 2009 3:20 PM | permalink

Waffle House waitress Yakeisha Ward, pictured, shot a customer who complained about poor service, according to police in Manning, SC.

The aggrieved customer, Crystal Samuel, admitted to throwing a waffle at Ward, but claims the eponymous breakfast staple did not actually hit the waitress.

Ward, 29, allegedly jumped across the counter, went to her van to retrieve a gun and shot the victim in the arm during the fracas.

She is charged with with assault and battery within intent to kill.  And by the looks of this mug shot, she wouldn't waffle if asked if she'd do it again.

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Comments

[RHS]

Aw, look at her face. She knows she did a silly thing!

[Glynne1964]

I work in the customer service industry. It is a thank-less job. I wouldn't go as far as to shoot someone, but believe me I'd love to give some of them what they dish out!

That is why I have made it a rule that when someone is serving me, I treat them as I'd want to be treated. You'd be suprised at how many servers/cashiers/etc would love a simple "thank you" & a smile.

The public overall sucks in how it treats people in customer service. Believe me, I've been in it for over 20 years. The public is downright rude, mean & nasty in some cases.

[Daniel]

I agree with Glynne, too many people treat those who work in customer service like dirt, and it must get so unbearable after a time. The amount of times I've heard customers getting verbally abusive toward staff members in shops etc is unreal, I sit there wanting to go over to the customer and hit them myself, so go only knows how the person taking the abuse must feel.

Everybody has a limit, everybody has a certain point where, once pushed past, they simply snap and go mental. It can be a simple screaming fit, or it can escelate to physical violence, and that's why I refuse to work in customer service if I can help it.

[Laurel]

Well, she proved beyond a doubt that the customer was right. Poor service indeed!

[cwn]

hmmm, 4:30am at a South Carolina Waffle House and you want to start harrassing a waitress and throwing food at her?

I mean yeah, shooting her for being rude is a bit much but hey, act like an ass in public and it's bound to happen eventually.

[Jenn]

Obviously, she shouldn't have resorted to shooting anyone.. but in my opinion, the customer should be charged with assault and public disturbance as well. A grown woman should not be throwing things at workers because she's not happy with service. People have been charged in similar circumstances, the only reason she wasn't here was because she got shot by the employee.

[minky]

I'VE WORKED IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME. PEOPLE LOSE THERE MANNERS OUT IN PUBLIC. I HAVE EVEN HAD A CUSTOMER TELL ME AFTER GETTING HIS PARTY OF TWENTY PREPARED FOR THERE EVENING DINNER. THAT HE DID WON'T ME SERVING THEM HE WANTED ANOTHER SERVER. WHEN I ASKED WAS MY SERVICE UPSETTING OR INSUFFICIENT. "HE SAID NO,I JUST WANTED AN WHITE SERVER.
I WAS UPSET BUT, SHOOTING SOME ONE IS OVER SERVING SOMEONE.

[Jamie]

Sounds like self defense to me!

[Tim]

It's customers like her is the reason why I quit working in customer service. Customer Service is a underpaid stressful job and customers are ungrateful.

[Huh???]

More people should watch the movie 'waiting'... It'll teach you not to f@@k with those who serve your food!

[Russell]

Temporary insanity would make a good defense.

There's nothing easy about being a Waffle House waitress at 4:30 a.m. at the peak of recession.

She deserves nothing more than probation with possible deferred adjudication (to keep her record clean).

[cynthia]

I work in the food industry.. it puts food on our table and pays the bills... I have recieved someout right rude customers and even offer them something for free an apology just to be cut down and tell how low life I am... I get upset yes but shoot someone NO! My 3 kids and my house and husband remind me everytime I get mad they arent worth it... Just for some of u that look over the comments that act like this customer did to this poor women... we are ppl to it doesnt mean we are trash, and that we are a no one.. I choose to work this profession to where I dont have to out my kids in child care and my husband is a mechanic so he makes decent just not enough to have extras... Sorry but the customer should be charged as well... agrees with everyones post do far

[taurus]

U knw Ms. Ward did the wrong thing & the other lady was even wrost. I'm give the upper hand. If u play with FIRE u will get burned by FIRE.

[Randy Darrah]

I ate at waffle house a couple nights ago when I got off of work. It filled me up. I got a good breakfast for under 10 bucks. Ain't America great?

[Ernest]

I use, work at fast food restruant.Alot of customers treat me very badly one lady turn over cup of soda over table i went clean up spill soda at she throws, her napkins she used on floor enfront of me and told pick them ok while her friends or family members laugh she informed them we don't work in customer service,industry That why left. People like,her show no RESPECT! to the workers.Ms.Ward was wrong to shoot her but she should treated Ms.Ward like the way she like to be treated Nice!

[cartec]

I have never worked in the food service industry but I can empathize with those who do. It is a difficult and thankless job, with low wages and no escape. Upper mgmt uses and abuses them and lately the gov. has gotten into the act by taxing tips. The people who serve our food need to be cheered and honored. I can understand how this woman felt. She should not be charged.

[AIT]

why does this article have a hyperlink to to the outlook webpage for new york? Looks like something wrong on this pages for real!

[Susie]

Thanks for the catch AIT! Looked like it was redirecting properly on a mac, but not on a PC. Fixed now! Many thanks from the dumb bloggers!

[Gomer]

Did they lady that shot the waffle tosser have a waffle for breakfast with gunpowder toppin'?

[Sick of it!]

I have been a waitress for 30 years, and only in the last 10 years have customers been anything but respectful. I wish someone would have the guts to throw something in my face, anyone who has had a complaint about myself, or a coworker has gone home and called the manager. We get more flack for the most trivial thing, than a doctor gets for "accidently killing someone." Some customers seem to think we are there hired slaves- to act obediently, and treat them like they are kings and queens..The latest incident was a woman who kept my boss on the phone for almost an hour, whining about what appeared to her as "neglect." She thought I was talking to the other customers more than I was talking to her and her miserable husband. Plus she left me a $10 tip on a $50 check. What a retard- if the service was that bad she should have left nothing! Alot of these people (complainers) have no back bone and gossip is a way of life for them because they have no life. the customer is always right is a bunch of crap.. Let me tell you people who complain- you might be getting us in trouble with our bosses, but when you complain about our bosses the owners, or anyone in management.they are cursing you and making a total ass of you. Nobody's perfect and we really don't want to be your psychiatrist. Like I said I wish someone would throw something at me, but they won't because they are usually backstabbers with no guts. Yes shooting someone is wrong, but if the girl had no sleep, kids at home or whatever stress it's sort of understandable. Most of these complainers don't have the public complaining about them at there jobs. I'm going to send this girl a check in case she needs anything in jail....So sick of it & yes I know I need a new job

[Lisa]

@Sickofit - Isn't a 20% tip pretty good?

[Wren]

I agree with Lisa here.. customers typically gave me 15-20% tips and i was pretty ok with that..but Ive had my fair share of whiney and b****y customers, cant say i dont blame this woman for shooting the jerk, but it is a bit too far. Oh well, dont f**k with the customer service haha