Church's Chicken employee killed after argument with drive-thru customer; no arrest made

A fight between a fast food employee and a customer turned deadly in west Tennessee on Monday night when police say the guest shot a female worker after a reported argument.

The fatal shooting took place just before 9:10 p.m. at a Church's Chicken in Memphis, officials said.

According to police, at 9:10 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at the Park Avenue business, about six miles southeast from downtown Memphis.

Arriving officers found a female victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound and transported her to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, officials posted in a news release.

Church's Chicken shooting came after argument

A preliminary investigation by police found the victim was working in the business when a woman in an SUV pulled into the drive-thru and argued with the employee.

It was not immediately known what the pair argued about.

"The teal-colored SUV drove off the lot and the victim walked outside of the business to get some air," police wrote in the release. "A few moments later a gunshot was heard and the teal-colored SUV was seen on video speeding off the parking lot."

Shortly after, the shooting victim was located in the parking lot.

As of Tuesday, police had not released the victim's name or age.

USA TODAY has reached out to Memphis police and Church's Chicken.

Church's Chicken fatal shooting footage shows suspect

Police described the person captured on camera who argued with the employee as a female with purple hair driving a teal-colored compact SUV.

As of Tuesday an arrest had not been made in the case which police said remained under investigation.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call CrimeStoppers.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.