Publix Brawl: Racial Slur Hurled At Deli Employee Causes Brawl At Tampa Publix

A Publix brawl is making headlines across the country this weekend. According to NewsMax, a customer ordering chicken wings at the deli made some racist remarks to a store employee, and things got pretty intense after that.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, customer Raleigh Harris, 59, was extremely rude to an employee while placing his order at the Temple Terrace Publix location on September 16. Within minutes, other customers got involved, and things turned physical. Customers were chasing each other around the deli, clearly getting out of control fast.

At least one shopper caught the Publix brawl on camera using her cell phone and posted the footage online. It has since gone viral.

“[Harris] got really outraged and told him to mind his [expletive] business and kinda threw the n-word in there a few times. The guy that was ordering chicken was like running around the deli being chased by these other customers,” said witness Jessica Jordan.

Employees tried to jump in and stop the fighting, but it was no use.

A customer named Leon Lightbody, 25, ended up getting arrested for simple battery after throwing some punches.

The Publix brawl wasn’t the first of its kind, either. Back in July, a parking dispute at a Publix in Orlando was reported. In that instance, Edwin Colon, 46, got into an argument with a pregnant woman. While things could have easily been left in the parking lot, the pregnant woman allegedly called her husband, and he showed up at the grocery store, walking right up to Colon (who was coincidentally at the deli counter) and getting into a physical altercation with him.

Although these instances seem similar (fights at Publix locations in Florida at the deli), the company says that safety is its first priority.

“[Publix is] disappointed in the behavior of those involved, but thankful no one was injured. A couple of our associates placed themselves in harm’s way attempting to break it up. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. The safety and well-being of our associates and customers is our first priority,” said Publix spokesman, Brian West, after learning about the incident.

Hopefully, these coincidental cases do not see a third (or fourth) incident added to the mix.

The Publix brawl could have been far worse had someone been injured. It is unknown if Tampa police plan on filing any additional charges in the case.

[Photo by Erik S. Lesser / Getty Images News]