Man arrested after shooting in Applebee's, police pursuit

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 40-year-old man was arrested at a McDonald’s at Ponte Vedra Beach after a pursuit following a shooting inside an Applebee’s restaurant, authorities said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’'s Office followed the suspected vehicle down Jay Turner Butler Boulevard Thursday night. During the pursuit, the suspect was seen weaving in and out of traffic, almost colliding with cars, JSO said.

After the vehicle was stopped, the driver was identified as John Blanks. Officers said an odor of marijuana was coming from the car. Officers searched the vehicle and said they found cocaine, marijuana brownies and ammunition in the vehicle.

The gun fired in the restaurant was left at the scene, JSO said.

An Appplebee’s employee heard a single gunshot and saw several men struggling over a gun, one man standing and the other in a wheelchair. The employee ran to the men, and one of the men handed the gun to the employee.

The incident was captured on video surveillance. The video showed a man sitting with several others at a table drinking alcohol before the shot was fired. After the gun was fired, the men from the table and other restaurant patrons ran. However, a white man was seen struggling with an unknown black man in a wheelchair, who then handed the gun to an employee, JSO said.

An Applebee’s waitress said the men at the table were cursing and she asked them to stop because of small children sitting near them, JSO said. After the gunshot, she helped the children leave the restaurant so they wouldn’t get hurt.

It is not known if the gun was fired intentionally or accidentally.

Blanks faces several charges including firing a deadly missile, possession of cocaine and marijuana and failure to drive in a single lane.

Cox Media Group