Burger King Scene of "Homeless Homicide," Employee Punched Victim, Say Detroit Cops

DETROIT (CBS/AP)  The death of a 67-year-old Burger King customer in Detroit, who police said fell and later died after being punched by a 20-year-old employee, was ruled a homicide on Friday.

An autopsy determined that Paul Cannon died from blunt force trauma to the head, said a spokesman for the Wayne County medical examiner's office. The employee was being held Friday and could face criminal charges.

Police said Cannon was reportedly causing a disturbance Thursday afternoon at the restaurant on the city's east side and tried to hit the worker, who swung back. Police believe he was homeless, said Sgt. Eren Stephens.

"A verbal argument occurred," Stephens said. "It escalated into a physical altercation."

Jerome Perdu, 59, of Detroit, works as a security guard nearby and said he was at the restaurant at the time. He said he didn't see the customer get hit, but watched as paramedics tried to revive him. The restaurant was crowded at the time, he said.

"I just seen him lying on the floor," Perdu said. "EMS was pumping him."

He died at a hospital, police said. The victim's last known address was in Detroit, according to the medical examiner's spokesman.

Denise Wilson, a spokeswoman for Miami-based Burger King, said that company officials were aware of the incident and the franchise owner was cooperating with police.