Police responded to the Taco Bell located at 633 Liberty St. about 4 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of the altercation. The customer initially attempted to order food at the drive-thru window, but he was not greeted by an employee, according to Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney.
“He banged on the window and yelled, but nobody would help him,” Delaney said.
The angry and hungry 26-year-old man parked his car and went to the front door, but it was locked. He then banged on the door in order to get service or make a complaint.
The restaurant was open for business, but the customer did not get any attention until an employee came to the door and shoved him. The two began to physically fight when the suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Steven Noska, of 34 Wait St., Springfield, retrieved a BB gun from his car in the parking lot, Delaney said.
The victim told police he was shot several times by Noska and eventually struck with the weapon. Several witnesses recorded the incident on their cell phones and provided the footage to police, Delaney said.
Noska was charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery, according to an arrest report.
“When booked [Noska] had bite marks on his arm caused by the victim during the fight over ‘no tacos or burritos,'” Delaney said.
Noska was scheduled to be arraigned in Springfield District Court Monday.