Update 03/09/2022 3:39pm:

27-year-old Corey Pujols, a Tampa Dunkin' Donuts employee, was sentenced to two years of house arrest for fatally punching a 77-year-old customer who called him a racial slur. Pujols must also complete 200 hours of community service and attend an anger management course.

The incident took place on May 4, when 77-year-old Vonnelle Cook went through the drive-thru and became angry at the lack of service. After yelling about the poor service through the intercom, Dunkin' employees asked Cook to leave. However, he parked his car and went inside, where he continued to berate the employees. 

Pujols asked a co-worker to call police, which led to an argument between the two men. Pujols asked Cook to leave, and Cook, who was white, called Pujols a racial slur. When Pujols asked Cook not to say that to him again, Cook repeated the slur, and Pujols punched him in the jaw.

Cook fell to the ground, hitting his head. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died two days later. An autopsy showed that he suffered a skull fracture and brain contusions. 

Pujols was charged with aggravated manslaughter, but he later took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to felony battery. Grayson Kamm, a spokesman for Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren, addressed the factors in Pujols' sentencing. 

"Two of the primary factors were the aggressive approach the victim took toward the defendant and everyone working with the defendant, and that the victim repeatedly used possibly the most aggressive and offensive term in the English language." 

Source: NY Post 

Original 05/12/2021 1:48pm:

A 27-year-old Dunkin Donuts employee has been charged with the death of a 77-year-old customer after he allegedly punched the man for repeatedly calling him a racial slur.

According to Tampa police, the altercation started when the elderly customer was upset at the service he received at the restaurant's drive-thru. When he was asked to leave, he parked his car and entered the establishment where an argument took place between the man and Dunkin Donuts employee Corey Pujols.

During the verbal exchange, the customer called Pujols a racial slur and did so again after Pujols challenged him to say it again. After repeating the phrase, he was knocked out by a punch to the jaw before hitting his head on the floor. The 77-year-old was transported to the hospital, where he died two days later.

Tampa Fire Rescue responded and transported the victim to the hospital, where he died two days later. As a result, Pujols was arrested and has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of an elderly adult.

Source: FOX 13