Memphis man faces charges after McDonald’s drive-thru assault

A Tennessee man faces multiple criminal charges after allegedly attempting to strike the mother of his one-year-old child with a vehicle during a McDonald’s drive-thru assault on Winchester Road in Memphis. The incident occurred during the week of July 5, 2026, when Shai Wise allegedly targeted Samareya Payne as she exited the automobile with their infant.

Fox 13 reported these details from an official police affidavit, which noted that Payne claimed Wise initially attempted to assault her while they remained in the drive-thru lane. Bystanders informed law enforcement personnel that they witnessed the 22-year-old suspect attempt to strike Payne with the car multiple times after she stepped out of the vehicle with the baby.

The suspect fled the fast-food establishment upon the arrival of the Memphis Police Department, sparking a high-speed vehicle pursuit down Ridgeway Road. The tracking affidavit noted that Wise cut through active traffic patterns and exceeded speed limits before officers successfully halted the vehicle to execute an arrest. Upon searching the automobile, police officers discovered an 11-year-old passenger inside the car, leading authorities to state that the driver had endangered multiple children during the event.

People noted via a review of Shelby County jail records that the suspect successfully posted a $10,000 bond on Wednesday. Wise faces two counts of aggravated assault, domestic assault, and reckless driving, with his next formal court appearance scheduled for August 17, 2026. Media representatives reached out to the Memphis Police Department and corporate representatives at McDonald’s on Sunday for further comment regarding the encounter. Resident Asia Dickerson expressed deep sadness over the situation to reporters, commenting on how tragic it was for children to be subjected to such actions within the community.