Fired Airport Coffee Shop Worker Attacks Managers, Hurdles Counter in Chaotic Scene
A WWE-style brawl erupted between a worker and two managers at an airport coffee shop, resulting in the barista becoming an ex-barista.
The battle that brewed inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Jan. 13 allegedly had its source in what WAGA-TV in Atlanta described as a disagreement over “espresso shots.”
In a one-minute, action-packed video that was originally shared on social media but has since been deleted, a woman identified by local news outlets as Shacoria Elly tussled with two managers, a shorter man in a red shirt and a taller man in a green shirt, at the Harvest & Grounds cafe.
The first man can be heard telling Elly to get out of the store, and both managers attempted to push her away when she apparently tried to go behind the counter.
In what the New York Post irreverently described as “caffeine-fueled rage,” the scuffle seemed to get further out of hand when the man in the red shirt threw the woman to the floor.
She responded with a flurry of punches and slaps before the other, seemingly calmer, manager grabbed her, while getting smacked in his face in the process.
The same manager, who seemed to be more of a peacemaker, also prevented the employee from using a chair on his colleague earlier in the conflict.
The video, which had gone viral on X and was re-uploaded by TMZ, can be viewed below.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language and scenes of violence that may offend or disturb some readers.
The situation seemed to cool down as Elly started to walk away, but round two occurred when Elly reversed course and hurtled over the counter before she was seemingly subdued.
Amidst the conflict, the manager in the red shirt can heard asking, “Somebody’s on the phone with the police, right?”
The brief video, which is somewhat reminiscent of the hangry skirmishes (albeit between employees and customers) often caught on cell phone cameras at fast-food restaurants, doesn’t tell the whole story, of course — especially regarding what led up to the fight.
Since Elly repeatedly shouted “give me my stuff,” however, it is possible that that the altercation could have been de-escalated if the duo had allowed her to obtain her personal belongings before leaving.
After initially slipping to the floor, Elly exited with her jacket and a bag, but it’s undetermined if that was the sum total of her “stuff.”
And she was already gone from the scene by the time Atlanta police arrived.
Citing a police report, WAGA-TV explained that “Elly was ‘terminated from her position’ and airport security confiscated her badge.”
There is no indication in the police report that the woman, or anyone else, faces any charges as a result of the Concourse D clash, however.
As a footnote, according to WXIA-TV, Elly’s initial espresso argument was with a female employee, rather than the two managers, according to the police report.
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