Police: Comment About Woman Sparked Brawl At Methuen McDonald's
METHUEN (CBS) – What began as a verbal altercation inside a Methuen McDonald's ended with five people under arrest and three others in the hospital with serious injuries.
Police say early Thursday morning a group of eight or nine people was inside the McDonald's on Route 110 in Methuen when one of the men made an offensive comment about a woman inside the restaurant.
That sparked an altercation that spilled out into the parking lot, where a fight broke out.
The three men who were with the woman in the restaurant all ended up in the hospital with stab wounds. Those men are all in their twenties, according to police.
"It appears the altercation started inside. Several subjects... attacked the three victims with a metal piece of piping causing the injuries," Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said.
Police have arrested five people. Among them, 19-year-old Rafael Buli of Lawrence is accused of using a knife to stab two of the victims.
Omarlin Padilla of Methuen and Ruben Caba of Lawrence, both 18, face charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Two 16-year-olds were also arrested.
Police are still looking for other suspects. Surveillance video shows as many as nine people attacked the three victims.
