In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a dispute that began in the drive-thru of an Arby's restaurant culminated in the death of 25-year-old Desean Tallent. The incident unfolded on a Saturday in March 2019, when Tallent, a male customer, became involved in a heated argument with the restaurant's manager, Deionna Young. The confrontation escalated to the point where Tallent allegedly cursed at, threatened, and spit on Young.
Following the initial altercation, Tallent left the premises.
However, he returned about an hour later and was seen circling the Arby's parking lot. In response, Young got into her own vehicle and followed Tallent as he drove away. The two engaged in what police described as a 'cat and mouse' pursuit. During this chase, Young fired a single shot from a. 45 caliber handgun into Tallent's SUV, striking him in the upper torso. After being shot, Tallent's vehicle crashed into the entrance of a nearby Walmart. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
After the shooting, Deionna Young returned to her job at Arby's. She was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting and initially faced a charge of first-degree murder. Young later confessed to the shooting and led police to where she had disposed of the weapon. Ultimately, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. In January 2020, a judge sentenced the 26-year-old former manager to 25 years in prison, with 20 of those years to be served in custody and the remaining five years suspended.
