Florida man gets furious over roommate taking up too much space in an Uber. Then allegedly attacks him with an unusual Walmart purchase
A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly attacking his roommate during an argument over space inside an Uber. The confrontation occurred following a shopping trip to Walmart, where the two men had purchased groceries and other supplies. Police later found one of them with a facial injury.
According to Law&Crime, Burton McDonald, 60, allegedly struck his roommate with a Walmart grocery bag containing a tub of ice cream. The incident reportedly occurred on October 17, 2026, in Ocala, Florida. McDonald was subsequently charged with battery on a person aged 65 or older.
The men lived together in a group home and had visited Walmart to purchase groceries and other items for their residence. Neither was capable of driving, so they relied on Uber for transportation. Their disagreement reportedly began while they were loading their purchases into the driver’s vehicle.
The driver remembered the confrontation differently
According to the report, the roommate told deputies that he had purchased several large plants along with other items. When he tried to fit them into the Uber, the belongings took up considerable space. McDonald allegedly became upset about the limited room available in the backseat.
The arrest affidavit describes the roommate’s account. “When loading items back into the Uber’s vehicle, the defendant became upset with him over how much space he was taking up in the Uber,” it states. The disagreement then allegedly became physical while the men were in the vehicle.
The roommate alleged that McDonald struck him in the face with a hard object, although he could not identify what it was. Responding deputies reportedly observed redness on his left cheek. The report does not specify whether he received medical treatment or sustained additional injuries.
Investigators also questioned McDonald, who offered his explanation for the confrontation. He claimed his roommate had “mouthed off” to him and “nudged him on his side.” McDonald said he was unhappy with the amount of space occupied by the other man’s purchases.
The affidavit records McDonald’s acknowledgment of striking his roommate. “He advised due to the victim ‘mouthing off’ at him, he struck the victim.” His statement therefore acknowledged the blow but described an alleged provocation that another witness did not corroborate.
The Uber driver told deputies he witnessed the men arguing in the rear of his vehicle. He reportedly saw McDonald strike the roommate with a Walmart grocery bag containing a tub of ice cream. The driver identified McDonald as the aggressor during the confrontation.
“He advised the victim never touched, pushed, or struck the defendant,” the affidavit says. That account contradicted McDonald’s claim that the roommate had nudged him. Police thus received different descriptions of the events leading to the alleged assault, although McDonald reportedly admitted striking the man.
Deputies arrested McDonald following their investigation. He was booked into the Marion County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000. A listed bond amount does not establish whether he remains in custody or has since been released. The charge concerns battery against a person aged 65 or older. Under Florida law, qualifying battery against someone in that age group is a third-degree felony.
The reports identify the men as roommates at a group home but do not say how long they had lived together. They also provide no confirmed history of earlier disputes or assaults between them. McDonald’s arraignment is scheduled for November 17, 2026. At that proceeding, he is expected to respond formally to the charge. No conviction has been reported.
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