Financial institution of The us Corp. ousted a financial advisor just after police arrested him for a racially billed tirade at a smoothie store in Connecticut that was caught on movie and considered millions of moments on social media in excess of the weekend.
The incident at a Robeks outlet Saturday commenced when James Iannazzo ordered a drink with no peanut butter for his son, who has a peanut allergy, according to a statement from the Fairfield Police Section. He left the retail outlet, but returned to confront employees just after his son had an allergic response that sent him to the healthcare facility, police explained.
A online video shot from powering the counter demonstrates a man shouting and utilizing expletives, and throwing a drink at an staff. “I want to communicate to the f—ing person who designed this drink,” the person can be listened to saying in copies of the video clip on TikTok and Twitter that ended up greatly cited in media stories. “You silly f—ing fool,” he reported, afterwards introducing “You f—ing immigrant loser.”
An legal professional for Iannazzo said his client “wholeheartedly regrets the incident that took place” and is not a racist. By Sunday, Bank of The usa reported Iannazzo, 48, was no for a longer time at Merrill Lynch Prosperity Administration, where by regulatory documents display he’s labored since at least the mid-1990s.
“Our enterprise does not tolerate actions of this form,” business spokesman William Halldin explained in a assertion. “We straight away investigated and have taken motion. This unique is no lengthier utilized at our company.”
Iannazzo’s lawyer, Frank J. Riccio, wrote on Twitter that his consumer had “stressed to the staff members that the product should not incorporate peanuts,” and that his receipt showed it shouldn’t have peanut butter. Riccio reported the son had a “severe allergic reaction” and was taken to the clinic by ambulance.
“When confronted with a dire problem for his son, Mr. Iannazzo’s parental intuition kicked in and he acted out of anger and fear,” the law firm wrote. “He is not a racist particular person and deeply regrets his statements and actions throughout a instant of extreme psychological strain.”
Riccio declined to remark on his client’s departure from Merrill.
According to the police report, Iannazzo questioned that the consume be built without peanut butter, but under no circumstances instructed the shop’s employees about his son’s allergy. Employees regularly told Iannazzo to leave, but he stayed and continued yelling insults, in accordance to the police. He also tried out to open up a locked doorway to a staff members-only region. He remaining right before officers arrived and later on turned himself in.
He was billed with intimidation primarily based on bigotry or bias, trespassing and breaching the peace, in accordance to the law enforcement. A courtroom appearance was set for Feb. 7.
