An argument inside a Hyattsville, Maryland, McDonald's on the evening of March 1, 2025, escalated into a fatal shooting, leaving 45-year-old Ricardo Clemons Jr. dead. The incident, which occurred around 8:25 p.m. at the restaurant on University Boulevard, resulted in the arrest of a security guard.
Authorities identified the security guard as 54-year-old Murwanashyaka Francois of Gaithersburg.
An investigation by the Prince George's County Police Department revealed that Francois, who was on duty as an armed security guard, got into a dispute with Clemons. The confrontation intensified, leading to Francois allegedly shooting Clemons. Clemons was found by responding officers inside the establishment with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Further investigation revealed that the altercation began when Francois asked Clemons to leave the restaurant. When Clemons refused, Francois reportedly used pepper spray on him. The situation then escalated to a physical fight, during which Francois is said to have struck Clemons with a baton before ultimately shooting him. According to the Prince George's County State's Attorney, there was no evidence to suggest that Clemons was armed or posed a genuine threat to the security guard.
Murwanashyaka Francois was taken into custody and has been charged with second-degree murder and related firearm offenses. He is currently being held at the Department of Corrections without bond. The security guard was employed by a third-party firm contracted by the McDonald's restaurant. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the deadly encounter and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
