‘They did nothing’: McDonald’s workers allegedly watched man kill woman in drive-thru and failed to call 911 after allowing him to approach vehicles
Left inset: Jose Juan Rangel and Maria Vargas Luna (KCAL/YouTube). Right inset: Maria Vargas Luna in the hospital following the attack at McDonald's (GoFundMe). Background: Surveillance footage showing the alleged "vagrant" attack on Maria Vargas Luna that left her brain dead and led to her death (KTTV/YouTube).
Workers at a McDonald’s in Los Angeles are accused of failing to act as a violent attack unfolded in their drive-thru, resulting in the death of a 58-year-old woman, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Jose Juan Rangel filed the lawsuit following the death of his wife, Maria Vargas Luna, who suffered fatal injuries during an altercation at the McDonald’s located at 245 North Soto Street on March 9, 2024. The complaint alleges that restaurant employees watched the incident in real time through drive-thru windows and live video feeds but did not call 911 or take any action to protect customers.
According to the lawsuit, employees observed an individual later identified as Charles Cornelius Green Jr. lingering in the drive-thru area for at least ten minutes before the attack. The complaint states that Green approached vehicles, asked for money, and stood close to customers’ cars, behavior the plaintiffs say should have prompted intervention.
The lawsuit alleges that Green suddenly lunged at Rangel through the open driver-side window and struck him repeatedly in the face. Luna exited the vehicle to help her husband, at which point Green allegedly shoved her to the ground. Her head struck the pavement, causing severe head trauma that led to a cardiac event and permanent brain damage. She was placed on life support for several months before dying from her injuries.
The complaint claims that employees did not contact law enforcement or request emergency medical assistance during or immediately after the assault. Police were reportedly called only after Luna lay unconscious on the ground and Rangel was injured.
Rangel and his attorney argue that the McDonald’s and its franchise operators were aware of ongoing safety issues at the location. The lawsuit states that the restaurant had a long history of criminal activity and frequent encounters with unhoused individuals, creating what the plaintiffs describe as a foreseeable risk to customers.
According to the filing, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to approximately 132 calls for service at the location between January 2020 and March 2024, including dozens of incidents involving assault, disturbances, trespassing, and other crimes. The plaintiffs argue that despite this history, the defendants failed to implement security measures or respond reasonably when danger became apparent.
Green was initially charged with felony battery and misdemeanor battery. Prosecutors later dropped the felony charge after determining Luna’s fall was accidental, according to local reports. Green was released on his own recognizance, and the status of the misdemeanor case remains unclear.
In a statement, Rangel’s attorney said the incident was entirely preventable and occurred in a place where customers had a reasonable expectation of safety. He said the lawsuit seeks accountability for what he described as a failure to act despite clear warning signs.
McDonald’s Corporation and the franchise owners named in the lawsuit did not respond to requests for comment. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also declined to comment on the pending misdemeanor case.
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