A group of Taco Bell employees in Nashville, Tennessee, did the unthinkable. They allegedly set off fireworks while playing around inside the location and then locked themselves out as the store went up in flames.
The damages are estimated to be up to $30,000. One employee, a shift leader, Courtney Mayes, 25, was arrested on Monday and charged with felony aggravated arson. She is reportedly being held on a $5,000 bond at the Davidson County Jail in Nashville.
According to ABC News, the incident reportedly happened on July 5th, although the investigation started on July 8th after the restaurant’s management called the local fire investigators. Nashville Fire Department said employees were seen on surveillance footage setting off fireworks inside the store before it caught on fire.
“According to the surveillance footage, the employees can be seen locking the doors to the dining room to keep customers from entering the business,” the Nashville Fire Department said in the statement. “The video then shows the employees running around the inside of the store with fireworks in their hands.”
The fire department also released a statement about the severity of committing arson.
“Arson is one of the costliest human-made disasters,” the Nashville Fire Department said in the statement. “Arson indirectly contributes to increased insurance premiums, higher medical costs, lost jobs, lost income, and the increased costs of fire services.”
The investigation into the incident is still underway. Reportedly the Nashville Fire Department said it expects multiple arrests “in the coming days.”
