Indiana Woman's Death After Tim Hortons Fight Ruled Undetermined by Coroner

The death of a 75-year-old Indiana woman, Anita Grayson, following a physical altercation at a Tim Hortons drive-thru in Fort Wayne on May 13 has been ruled "undetermined" by the Allen County Coroner’s Office. The coroner cited an "acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure" as the cause of death, stating the condition was triggered by the confrontation.

Allen County Coroner Dr. E. Jon Brandenberger explained that "acute exacerbation" means the heart failure suddenly worsened. He indicated that the physical struggle likely placed additional stress on Grayson's heart, causing a flare-up that could lead to fatal symptoms. While Grayson had a pre-existing heart condition, Brandenberger stated the altercation made a ruling of natural causes inappropriate.

According to police reports, Grayson became agitated over her coffee order, argued with a 17-year-old employee, and then engaged in a physical fight with a 20-year-old shift manager after being asked to leave. During the struggle, Grayson allegedly punched the manager and pulled out a chunk of their hair. Following the altercation, Grayson sat down, made a phone call, and later lay on the floor. Tim Hortons employees offered her water before she became unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The coroner's office investigated the incident and reviewed surveillance footage, bodycam videos, and 911 calls. The death was not classified as a homicide because Grayson succumbed to her underlying heart condition, and investigators found no significant contributory injuries from the fight. An accidental classification was also ruled out.

Grayson's daughter, Tawnda Grayson, has publicly called for the arrest of the Tim Hortons employees involved and has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to pursue potential litigation, pushing back against the police's account of the events. The Allen County Prosecutor’s Office stated it will review the coroner's final report before determining if any charges are warranted. No Tim Hortons employees have been charged at this time.