Latest news with #conflictresolution
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mayonnaise request may have led to Checkers employee shooting, killing customer: Investigators
The Brief A Checkers employee in Kissimmee allegedly shot and killed a customer following an argument, reportedly over missing mayonnaise. The suspect, Elijah Mackey, 23, is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which has raised questions about workplace safety and conflict de-escalation. KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A fast food worker accused of fatally shooting a customer who complained about his order appeared in court Friday as new and disturbing details emerged about the incident outside a Checkers restaurant in Kissimmee. What we know Elijah Mackey, 23, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder after allegedly shooting 40-year-old Wesley Robertson outside a Checkers restaurant in Kissimmee. The incident occurred Wednesday night at a Checkers drive-thru window near Old Town on State Road 535. The incident occurred Wednesday night after Robertson reportedly complained about his order at the drive-thru window. According to Osceola County deputies, a witness said the dispute may have been triggered by a missing packet of mayonnaise. Authorities say Mackey exited the restaurant through the drive-thru window, confronted Robertson, and shot him in the chest following a verbal exchange. Robertson collapsed and struck his head on the restaurant wall. Mackey fled the scene on foot, running past nearby attractions before being apprehended. He appeared in court Friday and was denied bond under Florida's Arthur Hearing provision. What we don't know Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the gun used was legally owned or how Mackey acquired it. It is also unclear whether Mackey had any prior criminal record or disciplinary history as a Checkers employee. Authorities have not released security footage of the incident or detailed whether any other staff or customers witnessed the full sequence of events. Checkers has not responded to inquiries about its weapons policy or provided a public statement regarding the incident. The backstory The confrontation began as a typical customer complaint. Robertson reportedly asked multiple times to speak with a manager after receiving his order, possibly frustrated over missing condiments. What followed was an extraordinary escalation, ending in a fatal shooting that stunned the local community and raised concerns over workplace violence, especially in customer service environments. Local perspective The shooting happened in a heavily trafficked tourist corridor near Old Town and Fun Spot America—an area usually associated with family outings and leisure. For locals and tourists alike, the violence has triggered conversations about public safety, impulse control, and the growing tension between service workers and customers. What they're saying The shooting occurred in a busy tourist area near Old Town and Fun Spot America. Visitors at a nearby hotel expressed disbelief over the violence. "You just want a hamburger, and then something like this happens," said one visitor to Central Florida. "It's really sad. You can't even voice a complaint without fearing for your life." Former Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón called the incident a tragic example of poor conflict resolution. "This could have been avoided," Rolón said. "It's important to teach our young people to control their emotions. It takes strength to walk away." Rolón questioned the presence of a gun at a fast-food job. "I can't imagine any fast-food chain that would allow an employee to be armed while on the job," he said. "It takes strength to walk away. We have to teach our young people how to control their emotions and not let anger dictate their actions." The company has not responded to requests for comment. What's next The Checkers location was closed following the shooting but has since reopened. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, customers at the Checkers in Kissimmee, and former Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Couples therapist tip of the day: The No. 1 thing you should never say to your partner in a fight
If you and your partner are struggling to communicate, it can be overwhelming to think about where to start to fix it. Should you focus on little moments of connection, which research has linked to longer, happier relationships? Or should you prioritize avoiding the "4 horsemen" of divorce, coined by leading love researchers John and Julie Gottman? In a previous conversation with couple therapist Sinead Smyth, certified by the Gottman Institute, shared some habits she has in her own relationship thanks to her professional expertise. The No. 1 thing you should never say when fighting with a partner is ... whatever you have the urge to blurt out without taking a beat. 'In the heat of an argument, it's not going to come out well,' Smyth explained. 'So I usually check myself, give myself three seconds.' 'Don't fire off when you're in conflict," she added. "Take a break, even if it's just a few seconds, and make a decision about whether it should be said or not and how you're going to say it.' You may feel like you're supposed to progress past certain conflicts with your partner and get the urge to tell them something to prove your point. But in reality, many of the fights in a long-term relationships stay the same over time, Smyth explained. So, rather than always focusing on your differences in times of strife, it can be helpful to be patient and try to accept that you and your partner are simply different people who may not always agree. Plus, research shows a strong correlation between excessive criticism and contempt toward a partner and eventually separating. Next time to you want to fire off a response in a conflict with your partner, try taking at least three seconds to think about what you want to say first, Smyth suggests. Ask yourself: Is this really necessary to say at all? She also says it can be beneficial to respond with something positive instead of a criticism or retort to make things less heated. TODAY's Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more. Tomorrow's expert tip will look at how many days a week to walk to boost your heart health — check it out in the morning at This article was originally published on
CBS News
20-05-2025
- CBS News
Pennsylvania nonprofit teaches conflict resolution, professional skills to young men in Delaware County
Upper Darby police are still searching for a young suspect wanted in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy over the weekend. Police said the juvenile suspect shot the teen in the back during an argument near Long Lane and Pine Street on Sunday. Family members identified the victim as Upper Darby High School sophomore Khalief Webster. The deadly shooting puts a focus on organizations that work to prevent interpersonal conflicts from escalating to violence. Making A Change Group is a nonprofit based in Chester that provides free conflict resolution training to young people. "It's very inspiring to see the individuals, the young people come together," Cory Long, founder of Making A Change Group, said. "We've seen many of them talk through their beefs with individuals and they'll say 'Hey, we didn't even know why we were beefing with you. We just didn't like you because a relative didn't like you.'" Conflict resolution is just one part of the nonprofit's gun violence prevention program. On Tuesday, a small group of men, ages 18-24, graduated from a four-week program that taught them not only how to settle disputes peacefully, but also how to use a computer effectively and build their resume. All seven men have either been affected by gun violence or are involved in the criminal justice system. Wylee Simpson, a 20-year-old from Chester, was among the graduates who received a certificate of completion. A shooting survivor, he said in the past, he often got into street fights. CBS News Philadelphia "I get angry fast, and I learned how to calm down and how to work on myself way better," Simpson said. Participants overcame numerous hurdles during their training. "During the process, there was times when I wanted to quit," Ky'Onta Brown, a 24-year-old participant from Chester, said. "There would be mornings they call, 'Yo, get up, come on, let's go. Get up, let's go,' and that little push in the morning, after 9 or 10 o'clock, you good." Mentoring is a key component to the success of the program. "My goal is to get children or disadvantaged young men to value not only their lives, but the lives of the people around them," Gregory Cottman, violence interventionist with Making A Change Group, said.
Bloomberg
20-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Turkey Sees ‘Huge' Peace Dividend From End of $1.8 Trillion War
Turkey said it expects to reap 'huge' economic gains from the Kurdish separatist group's decision to stop its 40-year war in the country's southeast. Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said Tuesday that fighting with the militant group Kurdistan Workers' Party, or the PKK, since 1984 cost Turkey around $1.8 trillion.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
The surprising benefits of going to bed angry at your partner
Sometimes insisting on resolving an argument before bedtime can be more harmful than helpful. (Jacob Wackerhausen/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) Arguments often feel urgent no matter what's going on for some of the couples Dr. Samantha Rodman sees in her practice as a clinical psychologist in Potomac, Md. This desire to resolve a conflict before heading to bed is particularly common for clients who grew up in a house where family members fought nonstop, said Rodman, author of '52 E-Mails to Transform Your Marriage: How to Reignite Intimacy and Rebuild Your Relationship.' 'It doesn't really occur to you to just shelve it and go to sleep.' For others, the tendency is because of the age-old adage that you should never go to bed angry — which sometimes comes from 'the belief that unresolved anger can fester overnight, leading to deeper resentment,' said Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist in New York City, via email. 'Its wisdom is likely to be rooted in the idea that resolution to arguments is essential for maintaining harmony and preventing even more emotional distance,' Romanoff said. 'Historically, it's a call for connection and prioritizing the relationship over lingering negativity.' Others' resistance to dropping an argument for the night may stem from self-comparison or toxic positivity, Rodman said — which can lead you to think you should be able to quickly discuss things with your partner, apologize, resolve the issue and happily call it a night. There's also the concern — sometimes in hindsight — about what may happen if you let your partner go about their next day with that lingering resentment between you two or without having said I love you. All considered, never going to bed angry sounds like a good rule to live by. But it isn't always useful, Romanoff said. 'Its rigidity can overlook individual needs, rest and perspective,' Romanoff said. 'Applying this convention without discretion can actually be detrimental to your relationship.' Putting an argument on pause and going to sleep upset is a skill you can practice, Rodman said. Here's how to do it and still keep your relationship intact. When you should call it a night Delaying sleep to resolve an argument can backfire for several reasons. When you're exhausted, you're less inhibited and thus have less control of your emotions, so you're more impulsive and likely to say or do things you don't mean and will later regret, experts said. Your problem-solving, listening and reasoning skills, which are all necessary for effective communication, can take a hit too, especially if you're really worked up. Those factors, as well as being under the influence, can further exacerbate the problem, Rodman said. A good night's rest, however, can completely reset the brain. Sleep 'reduces your brain's reactivity to negative stimuli — or perceived negative stimuli — helps process emotions and restores your ability to approach problems rationally,' Romanoff said. 'A well-rested brain is better equipped to engage in thoughtful, respectful communication.' Sometimes, what you were arguing about will no longer seem important the next day. For whatever concerns that remain, though, you'll be more able to express them in a way that's less emotional or defensive and, ultimately, better for the relationship. Except on the rare occasions when something important and relevant to the conflict is about to happen late at night, Romanoff said all arguments should wait until the next day. When you're still too angry to sleep Let's say you want to go to sleep but are struggling because the issue feels urgent, you're lying awake ruminating while your partner is sleeping soundly, or you're worried something bad might happen. These feelings could stem from 'attachment panic,' Rodman said. That's the fear that your attachment figure or closest relationship, typically your parents in childhood or your partner in adulthood, isn't there for you or doesn't love you. 'That's very evolutionarily motivated to try to get back to a state where you feel secure in the relationship,' Rodman added. In many of these cases, people feel the only way to manage their anxiety is to immediately try to repair things. But when you're worked up and tired, conversations with your partner won't go as well as when you're calm and rested. In fact, these conversations may even lead to a situation that heightens your anxiety. Regardless of why you just can't let it go, there are things you can do to settle down enough to get restful sleep. In some relationships, one person wants to discuss conflict more than the other, Rodman said. That person may worry that if the conversation doesn't happen right away, it never will — meaning the issue will never be resolved and the security and connection in the relationship will never be restored. That's why experts said it's critical for couples to commit to a time and place to follow up as soon as it's reasonably possible and when you're both in a better state of mind. Anticipating that things will be resolved soon can help calm you enough to sleep. Couples can also try to maintain any bedtime rituals that reinforce the foundation of the relationship, such as saying 'I love you,' cuddling or kissing each other good night, Romanoff said. Still engaging in these rituals communicates that your commitment to each other is more important than your current disagreement, offering reassurance without dismissing the conflict and balancing your immediate emotional security with the need for sleep, Romanoff said. Emotions are generally fleeting, but your commitment to, and care for, your partner likely aren't. You can even say all these things. If you're reading this tip and thinking, 'If I'm mad, there's no way I'm saying 'I love you,'' that stubbornness is part of what leads to frequent conflict, Romanoff said. 'The more you say, 'I can't learn new ways of engaging,' the less likely the relationship is to work out,' she added. 'In a healthy relationship, people are always learning new skills.' You don't have to do these things happily or romantically — a monotonous 'I love you' or a brief peck can still go a long way. It's not about denying your anger but about affirming the bond you share, Romanoff said. Self-regulating can also be important. You could try meditating, journaling, doing breathing exercises or distracting yourself by taking a quick shower or immersing your hands in cold water, Rodman said. Ask yourself, 'How can I handle things in a way that will make my future self proud? How can I care for myself as a parent would care for a child who's upset?' Learning how to soothe yourself 'is the real deep work that many people do with anxious attachment, especially in therapy,' Rodman said. Whenever you do have that follow-up conversation with your partner, remember that although arguments are inevitable, how you handle them defines your relationship and sometimes your sleep health, Romanoff said. 'Treat conflicts as opportunities to grow closer, not further apart,' Romanoff added. 'It's not about always maintaining a perfect relationship; it's about growing, learning and progressing through life together, even in the messy moments.' Kristen Rogers, CNN
