‘I had to’: Man attacks Orlando Chinese restaurant, staff with shovel
Updated: 7:49 PM EST Feb 24, 2026
A man was arrested after deputies found him in a Chinese restaurant with a shovel, shouting, “I had to destroy that restaurant. All Chinese restaurants are going to release a new strain of COVID on July 6,” according to an arrest affidavit.Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old Richard Jarvis on Monday after receiving a 911 call related to an aggravated battery.OCSO responded to Pearl’s Chinese restaurant, located at 5438 Central Florida Parkway, where the owner told deputies Jarvis first attempted to enter through the back door of the establishment, shouting, “he was going to kill everyone inside,” the affidavit said.Deputies said when Jarvis could not get in through the back door, he made his way to the front, entered the restaurant, and went straight to the kitchen, where he began tossing food and destroying restaurant equipment with the shovel.”I am a prophet, I’m trying to save everyone,” Jarvis said.When the owner saw Jarvis vandalizing the kitchen, deputies said he attempted to run away.That’s when Jarvis struck the owner in the back with the shovel and said, “If you run away, I’ll kill you,” documents said.OCSO detained Jarvis, and he is charged with aggravated battery, criminal mischief, and burglary of a structure with a weapon.WESH 2 has requested the body-camera video from OCSO.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A man was arrested after deputies found him in a Chinese restaurant with a shovel, shouting, “I had to destroy that restaurant. All Chinese restaurants are going to release a new strain of COVID on July 6,” according to an arrest affidavit.
Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old Richard Jarvis on Monday after receiving a 911 call related to an aggravated battery.
OCSO responded to Pearl’s Chinese restaurant, located at 5438 Central Florida Parkway, where the owner told deputies Jarvis first attempted to enter through the back door of the establishment, shouting, “he was going to kill everyone inside,” the affidavit said.
Deputies said when Jarvis could not get in through the back door, he made his way to the front, entered the restaurant, and went straight to the kitchen, where he began tossing food and destroying restaurant equipment with the shovel.
“I am a prophet, I’m trying to save everyone,” Jarvis said.
When the owner saw Jarvis vandalizing the kitchen, deputies said he attempted to run away.
That’s when Jarvis struck the owner in the back with the shovel and said, “If you run away, I’ll kill you,” documents said.
OCSO detained Jarvis, and he is charged with aggravated battery, criminal mischief, and burglary of a structure with a weapon.
WESH 2 has requested the body-camera video from OCSO.