SAVANNAH, GA—A McDonald’s employee, Joshua Daryl McGregor, 34, has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to arson. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that in April 2023, McGregor set a dumpster on fire at the Savannah McDonald’s where he worked due to frustration over the restaurant’s busyness.
McGregor ignited a piece of cardboard and tossed it into a trash bin filled with other flammable materials. The resulting fire grew so intense that it forced customers to evacuate the drive-thru area. The Savannah Fire Department quickly responded and extinguished the blaze, which led to a temporary closure of the business.
Surveillance footage captured McGregor ensuring the fire was sufficiently ignited and even recording the event on his cell phone. He was arrested by the Savannah Police Department and in May, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.