PICTURED: Fierce McDonald's employee and former boxer who fought back against a violent transient who grabbed and yanked her across the counter because he was upset he didn't receive a STRAW
- McDonald's employee Yasmine James has received an abundance of support from friends and strangers online
- The love comes after James was physically attacked Monday by transient Daniel Taylor, 40, at the St. Petersburg, Florida fast food joint she works at
- The woman fought back after she was grabbed across the counter and pulled Taylor back then frantically punched him in retaliation
- The witness who filmed the shocking altercation said James used to box
- As James calmed herself down and looked for her phone, a battered Taylor screamed: 'I want her a** fired'
- Taylor, from West Virginia, has been charged with two counts of simple battery
- The employee was not fired, the witness confirmed Wednesday on Facebook
- Taylor was detained Tuesday and charged with two counts of simple battery
- A woman believed to be his mother posted on Facebook Tuesday that her son had been on the streets for some time
A black female McDonald's employee and former boxer who courageously fought back against a white male transient who grabbed and yanked her across a counter in an upset over a straw has been identified.
Yasmine James, has received an abundance of love and support online from friends and strangers alike after a video went viral showing homeless man Daniel Taylor, 40, as he lunged at her then nearly dragged her across the counter Monday at the St. Petersburg, Florida McDonald's she works at.
Kinie Biandudi, one of the witnesses who filmed the shocking altercation and shared it on Facebook, posted an update on the matter Wednesday afternoon.
Biandudi said: 'The employee was not fired! This really did happen last night for all those asking me... it all started because he wanted a straw!!!'
The witness added that the employee, who is seen in the video throwing punches at the man to defend herself in the New Year's Eve attack, used to box.
The perpetrator has been charged with two counts of simple battery for the shocking altercation that he initiated, as seen in the footage.
In the video that went instantly viral, Taylor grabbed James by her shirt collar and nearly dragged her across the counter. But she soon resisted - pulled him back, then frantically punched him in retaliation.
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Yasmine James, pictured left and right on Facebook, a Florida McDonald's employee and former boxer, was victim Monday to a physical attack brought on by a transient man who was upset over a straw
Video grab shows homeless man Daniel Taylor, 40, as he lunged at James then nearly dragged her across the counter Monday at the St. Petersburg, Florida McDonald's she works at
James fought back after the homeless man grabbed her and nearly dragged her across the counter
People in the background are heard as they asked for the police as the woman pummeled the man and demanded that he 'stops playing with her.'
Taylor, from West Virginia, has been charged with two counts of simple battery for the shocking altercation
A coworker appeared to try to pull the woman off the man but her grip was tight and lethal.
He rushed over to Taylor and managed to separate the two.
The irate employee also screamed obscenities at her assailant.
At that moment, the manager came over to 'assess' the situation and asked the customer what was wrong with his order.
As the woman calmed herself down and looked for her phone, a battered Taylor screamed: 'I want her a** fired.'
The employee was not fired.
Taylor, however, was detained New Year's Day and booked to the Pinellas County Jail. He is charged with two counts of simple battery.
As James calmed herself down and looked for her phone, a battered Taylor screamed: 'I want her a** fired'
The shocking altercation brought on by the middle-aged man was said to have started over a straw
But the woman quickly retorted: 'No, you're going to jail!'
Taylor then asserted that he was simply asking a question before adding 'b***h' as the clip came to an end.
The transient was detained on New Year's Day and booked at the Pinellas County jail, according to court documents.
Taylor - who is between 5'7" and 5"8 and approximately 160lbs - is being held on a $1000 bond and was also found to have owed a $11 commissary charge, jail records have indicated.
The West Virginia native was instructed to stay away from the victim and the eatery.
On Facebook Tuesday, a woman believed to be Taylor's mother posted that her son had been 'homeless for sometime' and 'hasn't been able to find a job.'
The West Virginia native (right) was instructed to stay away from the victim (left) and the eatery
But according Doraetta Hesse, Taylor wasn't exactly forthcoming as to the most recent altercation he had been involved in.
'My problem is he called me last night about 6:30 pm,' she explained.
'He had been beaten and robbed. He told me he was going to call 911. To get an Ambulance and the police. He told me he would call me back from the ER.'
Hesse shared that she called the state police but added that since her son didn't have an address in the area, they couldn't do much to help her.
McDonald's could not be reached for comment on the matter.
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On Facebook, a woman believed to be Taylor's mother posted on Tuesday that her son had been 'homeless for sometime' and 'hasn't been able to find a job'
