Holly MatkinAtlanta, GA – The gunman accused of murdering a Subway sandwich shop employee and wounding a second worker after becoming enraged about too much mayonnaise on his order is a convicted felon who was out on bond at the time of the attack, according to law enforcement sources.
Melvin Williams, 36, has been charged with murder in the June 26 shooting death of 26-year-old Brittany Macon and the aggravated assault of 24-year-old Jada Statum, WAGA reported.
He is also facing weapons charges.
Williams was arrested on offenses of aggravated assault and burglary back in 2013, WXIA reported.
At the time he allegedly opened fire inside the sandwich shop on Sunday, he was out on bond for charges of cruelty to children and aggravated assault from an incident three months ago.
The deadly attack occurred at a Subway restaurant on Northside Drive Southwest at approximately 6:30 p.m., WAGA reported.
The store’s owner, Willie Glenn, said an argument erupted after a customer – later identified as Williams – became enraged about his sandwich order.
“Believe it or not, it was about too much mayonnaise on his sandwich,” Glenn told WAGA. “He decided to escalate the situation and from there – that’s when all hell broke loose.”
Police said the convicted felon ultimately pulled out a gun and opened fire, killing Macon and severely wounding Statum.
The on-duty manager returned fire during the incident, but did not hit the suspect, Glenn told WAGA.
The gunman ultimately fled the scene.
Glenn said Statum’s five-year-old son was inside the restaurant when the gunfire erupted, WAGA reported.
Statum was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
She underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition on Tuesday, WAGA reported.
RIP BRITTANY MACON APOLOGIES TO YOUR FAMILY FOR HOW THIS CITY/SYSTEM HAS FAILED YOU. PRAYERS TO JADA NICOLE’S FAMILY. WOMEN BEING KILLED IN THIS CITY BY REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THESE DAs ARE DEAD SILENT. SICKENING pic.twitter.com/AFlrbmbRXA
— laura (@humancoffeebean) June 29, 2022
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) arrested Williams on Sunday night after receiving a tip about his alleged involvement, according to WAGA.
“Yes, it’s a sandwich, but more importantly, someone who failed to resolve a conflict, having a conversation to just re-order a sandwich, decided to take actions in his hands,” APD Deputy Chief Charles Hampton told reporters, according to WAGA. “And now we have families who are devastated.”
“This was a very tragic situation that did not have to occur,” Deputy Chief Hampton said.
Glenn said both of the workers are model employees who had been working at the restaurant for less than one month, the New York Post reported.
This is Melvin Williams who is charged in killing Brittany Macon(26)and injuring Jada Statum, 24, over ‘too much mayo on the sandwich’
Records show he was out on bond for child cruelty and aggravated assault and shouldn’t have had a gun. I’ve found 8 mugshots so far @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/kclUaY5q0j— Eric Perry (@Ericperrytv) June 29, 2022
Macon’s cousin, who told WXIA she wanted to remain anonymous, said she is thankful that the man accused of murdering her cousin has been apprehended.
“I really thank the higher power, the man above, for just seeing a favor from our family, so we can get justice,” she said.
Macon’s cousin said the fact that Statum’s young son witnessed his mother being shot made the whole situation even more horrific.
She said Statum and Macon were dating and lived together.
“You didn’t have any thought about this little baby. He’s traumatized,” she told WXIA. “My cousin loved that child like it was her own.”
Macon’s cousin described her as a “very smart, loving, [and] caring” person.
“I really just want this man off the streets before it’d be somebody else’s family member,” she told WXIA. “They just need to lock him up and not let him out.”
