A woman pepper sprayed a Del Taco restaurant manager and other customers over a dispute about a burrito, witnesses and employees at the Ontario restaurant said.
The incident took place Monday afternoon at Mountain Avenue and G Street.
Witnesses say the woman was cursing and acting aggressively when she complained to staff about her order. She then allegedly picked up a bowl filled with business cards and threw it at workers before heading to the parking lot.
The manager said she followed the woman outside to jot down her license plate. That's when witnesses say the woman began pepper spraying the manager.
The woman then chased the manager inside the restaurant and sprayed others, including customers.
"I just happened to look at her and she sprayed me and the employee in the face," said customer Rose Keith, who was holding napkins to her eyes following the attack. "I didn't know what to think, I've never had pepper spray in my face. It was terrible, it's awful."
About eight patrons and six employees were inside at the time.
"I couldn't believe it, it was surreal. All because of a burrito," said an employee, who did not want to be identified.
None of the victims had to be taken to the hospital. Some were treated by firefighters in the parking lot.
Witnesses say the attack happened so fast that they only have a vague description of the woman: she was wearing medical scrubs. Ontario police said she was last seen driving a silver-colored Acura MDX, a compact SUV.
In a statement to NBC4, Del Taco said in part, "Immediately following today’s incident, the authorities were contacted and all parties involved received onsite medical attention and were released. A police report was filed and Del Taco is in full cooperation with the authorities to help identify the perpetrator."
