Anita Grayson, 57, died from a stress-induced heart attack following a physical confrontation with a Tim Hortons shift manager in the drive-thru, the New York Post reported, citing the medical examiner. Police said Grayson punched the 20-year-old manager after being told to leave the premises, then collapsed moments later.
The altercation began over a drive-thru issue, though specific details of the dispute were not disclosed. Grayson was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner's report classified the death as natural causes, attributing it to cardiac arrhythmia brought on by acute stress.
No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident. The shift manager has not been identified publicly, and Tim Hortons has not issued a statement regarding the employee's status or company policy on customer conflicts.
The case has drawn attention to the dangers of customer-service confrontations, though it remains an isolated incident. Family members of Grayson could not be reached for comment.