A Florida teenager is behind bars after police say he threatened to shoot up a McDonald’s—all because of a $5 meal gone wrong.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Dayton Schaffer late Sunday night after a fast food order spiraled into something far more serious. According to investigators, Schaffer called a McDonald’s in north Lakeland not once, not twice—but three times—allegedly making threats to open fire on the restaurant after claiming his order had been messed up.
The time? Around 11:30 p.m.
The price of the meal? Just five dollars.
The reaction? A felony arrest.
Florida Teen Faces Felonies After Threatening to Shoot McDonald’s Over $5 Meal
Dayton Schaffer, 18, is facing serious charges after allegedly calling a McDonald’s in Lakeland three times, threatening to “shoot up” the restaurant over a botched $5 meal deal.
When officers found… pic.twitter.com/c7R2OIrMWB
— Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) July 2, 2025
This wasn’t just a heat-of-the-moment complaint. Authorities say Schaffer repeated his threats over multiple calls, each time escalating the situation. The manager on duty took the threats seriously and contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded quickly and traced the phone number back to Schaffer.
When questioned, Schaffer reportedly admitted to making the calls. But what he told police next raised even more eyebrows—he claimed the threats were just a joke. That explanation, however, didn’t sit well with law enforcement. In a public statement posted to social media, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office made it clear: “We didn’t get the punchline.”
Now Schaffer is facing two felony charges. One for making a false report about a firearm, and another for the misuse of a two-way communication device—a serious offense in Florida. According to the state’s legal code, the first charge is a second-degree felony. The second is a third-degree felony. Both can lead to jail time, fines, and a permanent mark on Schaffer’s record.
No one was injured. There was no actual weapon involved. But the fear? The disruption? That was very real for the employees and customers inside the restaurant when the calls were made. Even if the threat was empty, the consequences are anything but.
Fast food workers, already under daily stress, now also face the risk of sudden threats over something as small as an incorrect order. This incident raises questions about how social media, impulsive actions, and a culture of instant gratification might all be colliding—sometimes in dangerous ways.
Schaffer’s arrest has already started spreading across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with some calling it an overreaction, and others saying the response was justified. Either way, it’s another example of how one bad decision—made in frustration or as a so-called joke—can escalate into a life-altering legal nightmare.
🇺🇸 FLORIDA TEEN CHARGED AFTER THREAT OVER $5 MCDONALD’S ORDER 🍟🔫
Dayton Schaffer, 18, allegedly called a Lakeland McDonald’s 3 times, threatening to “shoot it up” after a meal mix-up.
He says it was a joke. Police disagree — he’s now facing two felony charges.#FloridaNews… pic.twitter.com/D3OzOLO9Jx
— NewsXGlobal (@rpdnetwork) July 2, 2025
The case is still under investigation, and authorities have not released further details about the contents of the calls or Schaffer’s criminal history, if any. No official trial date has been set.
But one thing is clear: a $5 mistake might end up costing this teen far more than he expected. And what happens next… depends on what comes out during questioning.
