A KFC incident making headlines across Kentucky reportedly began with an ordinary inconvenience before taking a dangerous turn. A Lexington woman is facing a felony charge after authorities said she pointed an AR-15-style rifle at a KFC employee during a confrontation over a delayed drive-through order.
According to WKYT, 33-year-old Nayda Roman allegedly became frustrated while waiting for food at the KFC on Richmond Road in Lexington. The reported confrontation happened on May 11, although Roman was not taken into custody until late July.
An arrest report states that Roman exchanged words with members of the restaurant staff before leaving her position in the drive-through line. Instead of leaving the property entirely, police said she drove around the building and entered the restaurant’s parking lot.
Authorities allege Roman then parked her vehicle, opened the trunk, and removed an AR-15-style rifle. The arrest citation claims she pointed the firearm at an employee in a “threatening manner.” Roman allegedly returned to her vehicle and drove away shortly afterward.
The employee was left to process a situation that allegedly escalated from a slow order to the presence of a high-powered weapon. While fast food customers regularly complain about long lines, incorrect orders and slow service, the allegations connected to this situation are far beyond a heated exchange at the window.
Investigators reportedly used multiple forms of evidence to identify Roman. Police reviewed security footage from the KFC and used the video to identify the vehicle involved in the incident. Officers then compared the footage with police body camera recordings from earlier traffic stops involving that vehicle.
Police also presented a photo lineup to the employee, who reportedly identified Roman as the person involved. The combination of the restaurant surveillance, previous body camera footage, and the employee’s identification ultimately led authorities to Roman.
Roman was taken into custody in late July and charged with one count of first-degree wanton endangerment. Jail records showed Roman was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center on Monday, July 27. LEX 18 reported that she was arrested on July 28, creating a one-day difference between the published timelines.
Under Kentucky law, first-degree wanton endangerment applies when someone allegedly displays extreme indifference to human life and creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury. The statute classifies the offense as a Class D felony. It becomes a Class C felony when a firearm is discharged during the offense. None of the reviewed reports allege that Roman fired the rifle.
The charge connected to the KFC rifle arrest remains an allegation and does not amount to a conviction. As of August 3, Law and Crime reported that Roman’s next court appearance had not been publicly confirmed. No plea, conviction, or final legal outcome was included in the latest available reporting.
Beyond the legal process, the case puts another spotlight on what restaurant workers may face while simply trying to complete a shift. Employees have no control over every delay happening inside a busy kitchen, yet the person working the window often becomes the most accessible target for a customer’s frustration.
No matter how Roman felt in the moment, the arrest now means navigating a felony case connected to what reportedly began as impatience over food. For the employee, it means being placed at the center of an encounter that allegedly became threatening without warning.
