Allen County prosecutors have announced that no criminal charges will be filed in connection with the death of Anita Grayson, a 75-year-old customer who died after an altercation with a Tim Hortons manager.
Grayson died on May 13 following a dispute at a Fort Wayne coffeehouse. The incident began when Grayson entered the establishment and confronted a 17-year-old employee about her order. A 20-year-old shift manager intervened, attempting to de-escalate the situation. Investigators stated that the manager placed her hands on Grayson to prevent her from reaching the younger employee, at which point Grayson forcefully shoved the manager.
According to Fort Wayne investigators, Grayson then struck the manager on the nose. In the ensuing struggle, Grayson allegedly grabbed the manager's face, scratched her, knocked off her glasses, and pulled her to the ground by her hair. Other employees intervened, and Grayson was observed pulling clumps of hair from the manager and placing them in her bag before she was found unresponsive.
The Allen County Coroner's office ruled Grayson's death as an "acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure in the setting of physical altercation." E. Jon Brandenberger, the coroner, noted that physical altercations can cause adrenaline to worsen heart failure symptoms, potentially leading to hospitalization or death. The coroner's office could not classify the death as natural, accidental, or homicide, deeming the manner of death "undetermined."
Prosecutors cited Indiana law in their decision not to file charges, stating that the shift manager's actions were justified as defense of a third person. Investigators determined that Grayson's physical escalation, including striking the manager, was not a proportionate response to being touched. The manager's actions were deemed not to exceed what the struggle reasonably called for. The state, according to the prosecution, could not disprove legal justification beyond a reasonable doubt.
Investigators ruled out homicide, concluding that Grayson did not suffer significant contributory injuries from the fight. The investigation included multiple reviews of video footage, bodycam recordings, and 911 calls. Grayson's family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and is pursuing potential litigation.