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Seattle Bikini Espresso Shop Owner Defends Smashing Customer's Windshield

A car with its windscreen smashed, is parked outside the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in suburban Wakely in western Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Australian police say a knife attack

A Seattle bikini espresso shop owner is standing by her decision to smash a customer's windshield with a hammer after he threw coffee at her during a heated exchange over pricing. The incident, which occurred at Taste of Heaven Espresso, was captured on camera and has since gone viral on social media.

The owner, Emma Lee, 23, explained that the customer had been disrespectful on previous occasions, leading to the confrontation on June 11. The dispute reportedly began over the price of a 32-ounce coffee and a 24-ounce water, which totaled $22.

In the surveillance video posted on Lee's personal Instagram page, she can be heard asking the customer to leave, to which he responds provocatively. The situation escalates when the customer throws the water and coffee at Lee before getting back into his car.

Feeling threatened, Lee retaliates by striking the customer's windshield with a hammer as he drives off. She defended her actions, stating that she felt in danger and believed the customer's behavior constituted assault.

Lee emphasized that while the customer may have been upset about the pricing, his actions were unacceptable. She reported the incident to the police and filed charges for misdemeanor assault. The Seattle Police Department has been notified, but no further details have been released at this time.

As a result of the altercation, the customer has been banned from returning to the business. Lee stands by her decision to take action against the customer's aggressive behavior and is determined to hold him accountable for his actions.

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