A Lexington, Ky., woman could be behind bars after police said she threatened to harm a KFC worker after waiting too long for her drive-thru order, and they accuse her of using an AR-15-style assault rifle to do it. The May incident at the Richmond Road eatery has been getting increasing national attention, as the confrontation became a combination of everyday frustration and a frightening display of firepower, with local newspapers and social media outlets buzzing about the case.
According to the arrest warrant and police reports published by the local newspapers, on May 11, 2026, Nayda Roman, 33, became mad at the delay in her KFC order at the drive-thru. After an argument with the restaurant employees, she walked away from the counter and drove back to the parking lot, where she opened the trunk of the car and brandished a rifle, aiming it at an employee in the restaurant’s direction. The woman drove off, without retrieving her food, and no one was injured in the incident.
The investigators managed to identify the suspect by reviewing the surveillance footage from the restaurant, which captured the vehicle on camera. Moreover, the police used the bodycams footage from the traffic stop, during which the car was detained. Finally, the arrest was confirmed through a photo line-up, during which the employee identified Roman in a police photo line-up. The suspect was arrested around July 27 th or 28 th , 2026, and booked at the Fayette County Detention Center.
Roman faces charges of one count of first-degree wanton endangerment, a class D felony. According to the Kentucky law, first-degree wanton endangerment is when a person’s actions “manifest a wanton disregard for the safety of others resulting in a substantial risk of injury or death.” Roman may be sentenced to a prison term of one to five years and a fine of up to $10,000. According to the court records and local news outlets, the sentencing hearing was still pending as of early August 2026.
There was a lot of public interest on both the fast-food case and AR-15-style rifle. Media sites like Dexerto used the mug shot from the Fayette County Detention Center and a description of the police report to show the strangest crime cases. Local TV stations such as WKYT, FOX 56, and WTVQ/LEX18 were the first ones who gave information on the citation and arrest in connection with the case.
The case involving an argument resulting in a shooting is currently under the jurisdiction of Fayette County authorities. The issue of disrespect towards service workers and the debate over the safety of fast-food employment as well as the danger of firearms in ordinary domestic disputes ignites a significant discussion. Other similar situations that appeared in the past weeks have already raised concerns around the globe. However, on-site Roman, his defense lawyer, and KFC have remained silent about the controversy in the meantime.
