Punch-out at Burger King leads to death

• Tweet

DETROIT, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Police in Detroit say a 67-year-old customer at a Burger King restaurant died after being punched during an altercation with an employee of the restaurant.

Police said it was unclear what started a verbal confrontation between the customers and a 20-year-old employee Thursday on Detroit's east side, the Detroit Free Press reported.

When the employee punched the man, the victim "fell to the ground," Sgt. Eren Stephens, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Police Department, said.

"We're now waiting on the medical examiner's report to determine the cause of death," she said. "The 20-year-old has been taken into custody."

Police told WJBK-TV, Detroit, the punch might have caused the victim to choke on his dentures.

A spokeswoman for Burger King told WJBK-TV the franchise owner was cooperating with investigators.