A Colorado man who pulled a gun on a Burger King employee for not accepting a baggie of drugs as payment has been sentenced to 143 years in prison, officials said.
According to the New York Post, Eugene Robertson, 40, was sentenced Thursday (August 15) for the drive-thru incident, which spurred a series of crimes.
Eugene Robertson, 40, was sentenced Thursday (August 15) for the drive-thru incident that led to a series of crimes he committed in the Denver suburb of Aurora on October 17, 2022.
According to court documents, Robertson placed an order at a Burger King on the 600 block of S. Buckley Road in Aurora. Afterward, the 40-year-old drove up to the window and attempted to pay for the food with a baggie of drugs.
When the Burger King worker declined his “payment,” Robertson pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the employee before taking off.
Robertson then walked into a 7-Eleven across the street and pointed the firearm at the head of the store clerk. When he noticed the television surveillance camera system, Robertson shot the screen before fleeing.
As he ran out, he shot at two people in the parking lot. No one was injured in the shooting.
A witness at the convenience store told authorities that Robertson seemed “off,” and he was “talking about God” and carrying a purple-covered Bible at the time of the incident.
Later that night, another report was made from an apartment complex in the 18000 block of E. Kentucky Avenue.
A woman who reported the shooting told 911 that a friend she knew as Robertson was knocking on her door, and when she refused to open it, he fired shots at her and several other people. Luckily, no one was injured.
Police later found Robertson hiding behind bushes at the woman’s apartment complex and took him into custody.
In April, a jury found Robertson guilty of 17 crimes, including eight counts of attempted murder. The sentences were handed down separately, resulting in his lengthy total sentence.
“The Aurora Police Department took swift action in piecing together multiple crime scenes and quickly identifying a suspect,” District Attorney John Kellner said in a statement. “I hope this century-long prison sentence serves as a warning that my prosecutors and I will not tolerate violent crime in our community.”
“We consider this 143-year sentence justice for the multiple victims he put in fear that night. Jurors recognized the severity of the crimes this defendant committed. We believe the judge imposed an appropriate sentence,” Eric Ross, a spokesperson for 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner, said Friday.
“Even if he gets out on good behavior, half of a 143-year sentence comes out to be about 71 years,” Ross continued. “Could someone live to be 111? Potentially, but it’s still a lengthy sentence and something we’re satisfied with.”
