BELLEVILLE, Ill. (KMOV/Gray News) – Police in Illinois say a shooting at McDonald’s that injured two people started with a teenage employee refusing to take out the trash.
The shooting happened around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday at the McDonald’s location in the 100 block of S Belt E. in Belleville, KMOV reports.
Investigators say 44-year-old Kathy M. Bledsoe, the manager on duty, asked a teenage employee to take the trash out to the dumpster. When the teenager refused, Bledsoe told her to clock out and go home.
The employee then contacted her mother, 35-year-old Tynika R. McKinzie. She brought another daughter, a juvenile, to the McDonald’s with her.
A verbal disturbance happened in the fast food restaurant’s lobby, and police say McKinzie and her daughter eventually went behind the counter and to the office area. McKinzie then allegedly hit Bledsoe in the face and head.
During the altercation, police say Bledsoe pulled out a gun and fired a shot, hitting McKinzie in the leg. The bullet also hit another female, but police did not identify her.
Bledsoe was arrested at the McDonald’s, while McKinzie was taken to the hospital for treatment … read more.
POLICE STATEMENT, FACEBOOK:
“This was an unnecessary incident … “
Charges Filed in Shooting Incident at McDonald’s
Belleville Police Department – On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at approximately 4:45 p.m., officers from the Belleville Police Department responded to a reported disturbance at the McDonald’s located at 125 South Belt East. While officers were responding, additional information was received indicating that an employee had discharged a firearm inside the restaurant.
During the investigation, it was determined that the initial dispute began when the manager on duty, Kathy M. Bledsoe, asked an employee, a juvenile female, to take the trash to the dumpster. The juvenile refused to take the trash out, and the manager told her to clock out and go home. The juvenile contacted her mother, Tynika R. McKinzie, who responded to the store with another juvenile female.
A verbal disturbance ensued in the lobby area of the business. McKinzie and her juvenile daughter eventually went behind the front counter of the business and proceeded 75 feet beyond the counter to the office area. McKinzie battered Bledsoe in the face and head.
During the altercation, Bledsoe produced a handgun and fired one shot striking McKinzie in the leg. Bledsoe was taken into custody at the scene and McKinzie was transported for medical treatment. McKinzie is not currently in custody.
On July 17, 2025, Belleville Detectives presented information related to the July 16, 2025, shooting that occurred at a McDonald’s restaurant in Belleville. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office reviewed the case and issued the following charges:
- Kathy M. Bledsoe, 44, of Belleville, was charged with the following: One count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a Class 4 Felony
- Tynika R. McKinzie, 35, of Belleville, was charged with the following: One count of Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony One count of Mob Action, a Class 4 Felony
Bledsoe is in custody of the Belleville Police Department and will be transferred to the St. Clair County Jail pending a detention hearing and further court processes.
It is unfortunate that this incident occurred. It seems individuals are quick to resort to violence to resolve disputes without consideration of the impact their actions have on the community as a whole. This was an unnecessary incident that could have been mitigated without punches being thrown or a gun being used. BPD will continue to work with community members to ensure individuals who wish to handle disputes in this manner are held accountable.
BPD would like to specifically thank the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office for their collaboration during the review of this case. Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
