Gun fires by accident at McDonald’s drive-thru, wounding customer, NC police say

Fast food workers can attest to the fact strange things happen after dark at the drive-thru, and an example played out Friday night at the McDonald’s in Henderson, North Carolina.

At around 8:30 p.m., a gun was fired, and a 20-year-old customer was wounded as he waited in line, the Henderson Police Department reported in a Feb. 20 news release.

Turns out the shot was accidental, the wound was self-inflicted and alcohol was involved, police say.

“Upon arrival, officers located (a man) seated in a vehicle in the drive-thru lane, suffering from a single gunshot wound to his left thigh,” police said.

“Preliminary information gathered at the scene indicates that (he) was manipulating a firearm while in the drive-thru when the weapon discharged. Evidence was also located suggesting (he) had been consuming alcohol prior to the incident.”

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to recover. He lives in Bunn, about a 30-mile drive southeast from Henderson, officials said.

“Appropriate criminal charges are pending, and the investigation remains ongoing,” police said.

Henderson is about a 45-mile drive northeast from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published February 21, 2026 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Gun fires by accident at McDonald’s drive-thru, wounding customer, NC police say."