<p>TAMPA, Fla. — Police said a Dunkin’ store employee fatally punched a 77-year-old customer in Florida after the employee said the man repeatedly used a racial slur against him.</p>
<p>The victim, a man who police did not name, was punched May 4 and died Friday. That led to a manslaughter charge against 27-year-old Corey Pujols, who worked at the store.</p>
<p>Pujols told police that the man was “extremely rude” the day of the punch and had called him a racial slur. Pujols, who is Black, said he confronted the man about the slur, at which point the 77-year-old repeated it. The slur was not described further by police.</p>
<p>A Tampa Police Department report says after he was punched, the victim fell backward and hit his head on the concrete floor. The Tampa Bay Times <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2021/05/11/dunkin-customer-died-after-employee-punched-him-tampa-police-say/https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2021/05/11/dunkin-customer-died-after-employee-punched-him-tampa-police-say/">reports</a> an autopsy shows the man suffered a skull fracture and brain contusions.</p>
<p>Pujols was jailed Tuesday without bail on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a person older than 65, which carries a maximum 30-year prison sentence. Jail records show a public defender will be appointed to represent him.</p>
<p>A Dunkin’ spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday.</p>
