In a dispute over curly fries, Texas authorities have released a video depicting the moment a fast-food employee drew a pistol and fired through the drive-thru window into a vehicle containing a pregnant woman. CCTV footage from inside the Jack-In-The-Box restaurant in March 2021 shows employee Alonniea Ford drawing her weapon and firing at the fleeing vehicle.
It followed an argument with the vehicle’s driver, Anthony Ramos, who had just collected up his expectant wife and daughter from the airport. In the video, Ford, who has since pled guilty to the crime of lethal conduct, examines the concealed weapon in her back pocket. Minutes later, in the presence of another employee, she throws ketchup packets through the window at the Ramos family before drawing and discharging a pistol.
Prior to her employment at Jack-in-the-Box, Ford pleaded guilty to charges of larceny in 2010 and terroristic threat in 2012. Randall L. Kallinen, the family’s counsel, stated that “rage cases” in Houston were “out of control.” “Jack-In-The-Box must conduct background checks on its employees so as not to expose its customers to someone who would attempt to murder them,” he said in a statement to The Independent.
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Family to Sue Jack-In-The-Box and Claims No Assistance Since Incident, Says Mr. Kallinen at Press Conference
Mr. Kallinen stated separately at a press conference that the family is suing Jack-In-The-Box and that they have received no assistance since the incident. “This dispute was over curly fries,” he explained.
“Jack-In-The-Box is known for its delicious curly fries, so Mr. Ramos said, ‘Hey, let’s stop here for a bite to eat.
“Mr. Ramos told his wife, ‘You should try these curly fries because they’re delicious,'” In response to not receiving the curly fries, they stated, “we would have liked the curly fries.”
“This is one of the reasons why there wasn’t a minor issue. However, they refused to give them the curly fries despite having ample time to do so. They did not apologize. We were completely out of curly potatoes. They refused to hand them the items.
“What kind of restaurant is it that, after spending $13 on a meal, you cannot exchange your regular fries for curly fries, even if they were incorrect?”
Mr. Kallinen continued, “I know that if I had been nearly murdered, it would still bother me today, just as it still bothers this young family,” he said.
“This is a youthful family just beginning to establish themselves. And Jack-In-The-Box doesn’t care, as they have employed individuals who have pled guilty to terrorist threat.”
Mr. Ramos stated in his own remarks that he could tell Ford was “having a bad day” before the situation escalated.
“We are here today to convince Jack-In-The-Box to protect their customers from being shot and killed.”
He added that he would never visit a Jack-In-The-Box restaurant again. A Jack-In-The-Box spokesperson told The Independent, “While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we are aware of the 2021 incident involving an employee of one of our independent franchisees and remain committed to ensuring the safety of restaurant workers and customers.”
Source: Independent
