In a shocking incident at a Jack in the Box drive-thru, a fast-food worker fired shots at a family after a dispute over a missing order of french fries. The incident took place in Houston, Texas in March 2021 and was caught on video.
The family, Anthony Ramos, his pregnant wife, and 6-year-old daughter, had a routine visit to the fast-food establishment when things took a terrifying turn. They approached the drive-thru window to address the missing curly fries, but the employee, Alonniea Ford, refused to rectify the mistake. What started as a simple complaint quickly escalated into a frightening ordeal.
Video footage of the incident shows Ford throwing ice and ketchup at the family as the argument escalated. The situation became dire when Ford grabbed a firearm and started shooting at the family as they drove away.
The shocking video serves as a reminder of how quickly a confrontation can escalate to violence. It is particularly disturbing because of the presence of Mr. Ramos’ pregnant wife and young daughter, who were put in grave danger.
Authorities released surveillance footage of the incident, more than two years after it occurred. The footage shows Ford loading a gun in her pocket before leaning through the drive-thru window and shooting at the family. Ford was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She later pleaded guilty to a deadly conduct charge, highlighting the seriousness of her actions.
Mr. Ramos expressed his shock and fear, stating, “I couldn’t believe what was happening. It was very, very scary.” His quick thinking to drive away likely prevented a more tragic outcome.
In response to the incident, the Ramos family filed a lawsuit against Jack in the Box, accusing the fast-food chain of gross negligence. They believe the company should have better policies to prevent potentially dangerous employees from interacting directly with the public.
The family’s attorney, Randall Kalinen, revealed that there was no rush to serve the customers and the family even offered to pay for the missing curly fries. Despite this, the situation escalated into shouting and violence.
This alarming incident highlights the importance of conflict resolution and employee training in the fast-food industry. It also emphasizes the potential dangers that can arise in seemingly routine customer-service interactions. The legal proceedings against Jack in the Box emphasize the need for businesses to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of both their employees and customers.