I had a little bit of an issue with it, and I said say it again, and he did, and right hook sent him down. >> He hit him? And he fell? >> He hit him? Yeah. >> Tampa, Florida. One punch outside of Dunkin' Donuts. 3 days later, a 77-year-old man was dead. This is Corey Pujols Hols. Dorian Corey Pujols Hols. A Dunkin' Donuts manager with no criminal record in a case prosecutors called almost impossible to simply prosecute. Let's start with the law that ended his clean record felony battery. Under Florida statute section 700 84.041, battery becomes a felony the moment it causes great bodily harm or permanent injury. One punch met that standard. It's a third-degree felony in Florida, up to 5 years in prison even for a first offense. >> He's one of the employees. Um, and I guess I guess well, and I got really angry with I gave him a card with the street name and the Florida 3619 on it. >> Yeah, that's what happened. >> Hey, I don't know what happened. I know that he was actually talking Dorian Corey Pujols Hols. He was talking to >> Who? Which kid? >> Uh, that one. He has heart problems. He's a He's a 100% disabled. Um, fine. Uh, sick alert. >> Okay. >> He's a disabled veteran. Um, >> It's all right, man. >> He's got He's got allergies. He's got an allergy test. Uh, >> What do you have? What do you have? >> Um, >> Uh, yes. So, first and foremost, let me just say my name is Corey Pujols. I am the guy you are looking for um, in regards to this situation. Um, the long and short of it is that um, here at at obviously at Dunkin' He's a regular. He normally comes through here and um, orders a large hot coffee, but today I may be having a rough day or something, and he decided to be extremely profound at the mouth, and I asked him respectfully on the microphone, "Could you please not use that kind of language, you obviously with me and my employees. And as well as that, uh and he said no and then he came around to the window. He kept going at the window and then I guess he he was going to come inside, so I came inside I came around this side to let him know if he asked for the manager. Our current store manager is off already. She worked morning shift and she's, you know, currently the only one here, so I would be for the senior shift. I've been here a little bit longer than he has, so I would reserve responsibility for that. In any case, I came out to let him know. I said, "Listen, sir, with the to prevent any issues uh I would highly recommend that you go on about your business. We don't want to serve you any coffee today and you can try again another day, but you you have clearly upset clearly the atmosphere here and we would like for you to go on about your business." I asked him to do that repetitively. It's all on camera. Um he he as I mentioned came inside um and when he came inside, he addressed me and he was like and I said, you know, "Hey, listen, the manager is not here right now. Um I'll give you this you know, the the manager's store number and all that good stuff." And he didn't want it and I said, "Sir, would you please go on about your business again? Have a good day." He said, "No, you're a [ __ ] nigger." And then I said, and I'm sorry I had a little bit of issue with it. I said, "Say it again." And he did and right hooked him and he fell. >> So, it goes without being said that you can't hit somebody cuz they say something you don't like. >> I I very well >> I'm I'm just I'm just telling you I broke the law. >> No, no, no, I agree. Believe me. Believe me. I'm Listen, I'm terrified right now, but I agree with you're saying. You shouldn't. I have had a fit of racism since I I've only been here about 2 months and I've dealt with so much and I'm not saying that that is a reason to do it. I'm not. >> I got I got people saying a bunch of hateful and horrible stuff to me every single day for the past like 16 years. I let it go in one ear and out the other. It ain't going to hurt you. This will get you in trouble. Not going to get you arrested, but I mean, dude, you you you hit him and he fell down. >> Yeah, and he hit his head pretty hard. >> And he should have should have never said what he said, but guess what? That's the country we live in. You say what you want to say. Yeah, if you don't like it, like you're saying, dude, get the freak out. >> That's slip and fall, push and fell. Right hook and fell. My apologies for the last >> spinning and fell down. >> Keep it down. I don't want to do this other You hit him? >> He punched him in the face. >> I'm not one to run from my actions or what I've done. >> No, you're fine. >> And again, he's a regular, so I honestly feel like [ __ ] about this situation. >> worries. Some of you guys have to go out to you and get >> Yes, sir. You you should take it easy. >> Howdy. >> What's going on? >> Uh gentleman came in was being being very rude to this gentleman, which is the on duty manager. >> Acting manager for all intensive purposes. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. Said some uh few expletives and uh he hit him. And he fell. >> He hit him? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do you have his information yet or not? >> I have not. >> I just came in and that's his grandson that's with him, though. >> Okay. >> That is his grandson. I was just talking with him. So, um Yeah, you want to grab this 43. I have >> Um We do have surveillance, however, when the boss leaves, she locks the um >> That's fine. >> Yeah, she locks the >> So, here here's here's reality of what could happen. >> Yeah. >> If you charge battery, yeah, you could be charged battery. >> Right. >> You know, that's that's after we speak with him and and see what's going on. >> I'm aware, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um I'm not trying to get onto you, man. >> Yeah, no. >> You can't let and I'm telling you from here on out, you can't let it somebody says anything to you. >> Yeah. >> I said I I deal with it and I let it go on. I mean, people say you nasty and hateful stuff to him and I just because >> me, I know that. >> after no reason. >> I know it. >> You're going to have people like that throughout your life. Just got to let it go in one ear and right out the other. >> Yeah. >> And and just realize that he's going to leave and be on his way and you're going to still be here working, you know? >> Right. >> Um So, we'll let them get him loaded up and everything like that. Just do what you got to do, bro. I'll be in here in a minute. >> Yeah, I'm not going anywhere. >> You're cool. You're good to go, man. Thank you. >> It started moments earlier in the drive-thru. >> So, basically he was just being, you know, outright rude. I'm like, "Your card is going through." But, he was just being for like no reason. >> Well, verbal. Um I asked him if he wanted iced or hot coffee. He um instantly was like, "I like cold coffee." I wanted to put it in a Cuz I would have put it in a "I like cold coffee." Um I always get asked the same thing. They don't always get it wrong. I'm like, "Okay, so we can not hear and identify you at the window." I mean, >> So, if So, he got mad cuz you asked him if he wanted iced or hot coffee? >> Yeah. Uh instantly off rip he was already mad. >> I learned hot latte. Okay, I got you. >> Um so, instantly he was Instantly he was just, you know, Sure. above level. So, I was being uh very verbal. Didn't want to listen to um what we were saying. So, um Corey was like, he got on the mic cuz I've only been here for like 2 or 3 weeks. >> Sure. >> But, you know, I have Dunkin' experience. So, >> Well, that that shouldn't be a normal reaction of somebody. >> be a normal reaction. So, he didn't want to He was like, Oh. Thank you, sir. Okay, so yeah, he was being really verbal for absolutely no reason. So, um Corey got on the mic because, you know, he's the veteran here, you know, the more experienced person. >> Sure. >> So, um he got took over the mic and was like, "You cannot talk to the customer the way you're like that." And he wouldn't listen. So, he said, "Okay, you know what we're going to do? Um we're not going to take your order today. We're going to ask politely ask him to leave. Came up here. We had a verbal um a verbal like and leave. We're not going to take your order. That's the thing. I was like, "You need to leave." And we were trying to handle that before the police come again later. Um, so then I asked him he came up to the front and he was right there. >> So, even after you all asked him to leave, >> Mhm. >> he kept on coming. >> Came and parked. And when you say up there, up at the front counter? >> Yeah, he came um to the park to the park. So, um we knew Corey was going to um so, me and Corey went up there to wait and tell him to leave again. He didn't want to listen again. So, we asked him to leave him another two times, three or four times. And that's when, you know, he called in um Corey the N-word and it escalated from there. >> What did you see from Apple from there? >> From what I seen is I heard um him telling he Corey told me to call the cops off um rip. So, I was calling the cops. I was calling my manager. I was calling everybody. And um the dude he um he kept on you know, being violent, very rude. So, >> say violent, like physically violent or >> No, just verbally. I don't think he physically touched Corey, but you know, you know, mentally, you know, trying to get into Corey's mind, you know, and >> Sure. >> mess with him and mess around with his head. So, um then Corey um he was like, "Okay, we're going to ask you one more time. We're going to either, you know, you're going to leave or we're going to call the cops." I was already calling the cops. So, he didn't want to leave. He called he was like, "This bunch of [ __ ] this that and third your nicknames." Corey was like, "One more time." And he called him another name. And that's what happened. I was right >> What happened? >> And I was on the phone with my manager and the police officers at that time. >> I'm like >> Yeah. Police officer at that time. And that's what happened. >> So, what happened after that after he said that? >> Um he punched him, he was on the floor and I was on the floor. >> Okay. And you were standing like >> Like right around here. Almost >> Okay. Okay. Um is he in course that he's a normally regular that comes through here? >> here a lot and he's very, you know, like verbal. Like he I guess he doesn't know how to, you know, be respectful to >> Well, normal people know how to be respectful. He just not to be. >> He wasn't being respectful. >> I mean, it's >> And >> It's horrible. >> Yeah, so he does this a lot. I've had multiple times where I've had to go through it. He gets mad because we don't know his order. But we don't know your order because we cannot physically see your face. >> Sure. Hello. Manager? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um Are you able to A, you got a thumb drive? Or B, if you're able if we're able to get the video, can you email it? What what what's better for you? >> I'll have it emailed to you. >> Okay. >> I'll have my loss prevention guy. >> Okay. >> Send it to you. >> Uh let me go out and uh yes. >> Give me his email address. >> Yes, sir. >> I will I call him now as a matter of fact to uh go ahead and get him to do it. >> Okay. >> But words alone are not a legal defense. Florida law does not treat verbal provocation, including racial slurs, as justification for physical force. And stand your ground does not protect the person who escalates. Under Florida law, the initial aggressor forfeits that defense. That distinction mattered. Witnesses agreed the manager crossed the counter first. The elderly customer never swung. Cook was 77, disabled, and as prosecutors later revealed, a registered sex offender. None of that made the punch legal. Three days after the punch, Cook died from a skull fracture and brain injuries. And the charge changed with him. Prosecutors filed aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person under Florida statute section in 782.07. It's a first-degree felony reserved for causing the death of someone 65 or older. Maximum penalty, 30 years. For a moment, this looked like it would go to trial as a homicide. It didn't. In March of 2022, prosecutors reduced the charge back down to felony battery. Police requested the store's >> Smells better in here. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um You told me what happened. >> I I feel 30% right now. I understand the nature of the level of appreciation that I would give to you. And this is one of those things that the one thing that's scaring us right now is the level of He's in critical condition right now. It's not He has a brain small right now. He's unconscious and everything. So, I'm going to pray for you and for him that he recovers. He recovers You're not going to be able to see him here today. It's It's the level of injury. If he had he not been this injured, there's a lot of things we could have done. But like I said, nobody cares or knows what that guy said. And none of us feel good. At all, you know. He deserves to be placed in a I said no. I want you to go to jail. Everybody here agrees that what you did is wrong. What he said he was wrong, he was a Like I said, he's not a And so, I'll pray for you and for him that he recovers. That he is Hopefully go away. Um but for the time being, you're going to be charged with one count of battery of an elderly person. Which is 65 years of age. You'll have a lawyer who'll come to I You'll be able to bond out tonight at some point. And then we pray for of us that he recovers and yeah, everything will work itself out, you know what I'm Is there anything you have that you want to say? >> Yeah, I'm his mom. I'm his mom. >> That's fine. Mom, you want to step over here and we'll grab all of his stuff. Do you want a bag? Ma'am, do you want a bag? I can give you a bag for all Um You know what? Yeah, I've got one in here, or if you've got one. That's fine. Like I said, he'll get a bond Hopefully as fast as possible so he can get out and get a little bit, but I mean, I called the State Attorney's Office. I spoke to all of them, and it's just unfortunate, you know? I wish the guy had a black eye so he could actually say He's doing a lot better. He's from the same type of household. Really attractive person. What can make you go back? That's my first That's my first That's my first one. I'm sorry, sir. All right. Do you have anything else on your person? >> No, that's it. Uh took anything else, but >> That's for mom. Okay, that's it? >> Yeah, that's for mom. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yes. >> Brother, can you go have a seat in there? Brother, what what the detective was saying, do you 100% agree? Um Got his head hit hard and everything. When they brought him out here, he was unconscious. >> Yeah. >> And then while he's up there, um he's he's not doing good right now. He could get better, okay? Um So, you go down, we'll tell mom. Um mom, can you get Uh yeah. You do that, and I'll 10-35 Um Do they? Okay, that's fine. Um It's just It's just a whole problem that he gets back. Okay? I know that was not your intent. >> It was not. >> It wasn't. I I know that. You You told me that right off the bat, man. Um It would have been different if if if it would have progressed and it would have been more physical after that, but it wasn't. >> Yeah. >> But everything when something happens, everything is taken that happens in the entire situation. You know what I'm saying? So, him following, him getting the injury, and being elderly. Again, he could be in the hospital and be completely completely fine by tomorrow. Okay? Um but we'll tell Mom Mom will Mom can come down and bond you out. It should be I think a $1,000 bond or $100 through a bondsman. She can come down and bond you out. And um you know, I'm sorry about this. >> Um I'm sorry because >> Huh? >> I still think no matter what anybody thinks of me, I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have. I I agree with everybody that >> Let me turn your phone on for you. Let me talk to Mom real quick, okay? >> The reasoning, a clean record, a victim with a documented history of aggression, and real uncertainty over how a jury would read stand your ground. The sentence: 2 years of house arrest, 3 years of probation, 200 hours of community service, anger management, 0 days in prison. Grades: Pooh Holes gets a D. One punch thrown in anger killed a man, and no version of Florida self-defense law protects the first strike over words. The prosecution gets a C+. They upgraded the charge when the facts demanded it, then downgraded it when the facts got complicated. Defensible, not satisfying. Lesson: Words are never a legal green light for your hands. The moment you throw the punch, the law stops asking what he said and starts asking what you did. If you want more legal breakdowns of the cases without simple answers, subscribe. We post every week. What's your verdict on this sentence? Drop it in the comments. We'll see you in the next one.