A Chipotle restaurant in Southfield, Michigan was the scene of chaos on Friday night after an employee was shot in the leg over a dispute about guacamole. According to reports from local media outlets, the 21-year-old employee, a resident of Detroit, was involved in an argument with a customer that quickly turned violent. Witnesses reported hearing shouting and seeing the two men fighting before a gunshot was fired.
Thomas Huber, a witness to the incident, told FOX 2 that he was inside the restaurant eating when the argument between the employee and the customer began. The employee went to the back of the restaurant, and the customer followed, attempting to grab his food and put it in a bag. When the employee returned, the altercation turned physical before the gunshot was heard. Huber said he and others fled the restaurant as soon as they could.
The dispute reportedly began over the price of guacamole, which costs an additional £2.10, or $2.65, at Chipotle. Michael Beals, another customer who captured the aftermath of the shooting on video, told FOX 2 that he never expected the situation to escalate to violence. He said that all he heard was a loud noise and everyone ran out of the restaurant. The employee was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive.
The suspect in the shooting, a 31-year-old man from Detroit, fled the scene but was apprehended by Southfield police shortly after. A firearm was recovered and the suspect is now in custody, according to WXYZ. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, but police sources have stated that the dispute began over the extra charge for guacamole.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:50 pm at the Chipotle restaurant in Southfield, which is located about 15 miles north of Detroit. The restaurant was quickly closed and police remained on the scene to gather evidence and conduct their investigation. Chipotle has released a statement expressing their shock and concern over the incident and stated that the safety of their employees and customers is their top priority. They are cooperating fully with the police investigation.
Many customers and employees have expressed their shock and horror over the incident, stating that they never would have expected such violence to occur at a Chipotle restaurant. The community is also shaken by the incident and are calling for a swift resolution and justice for the victim.
This is not the first time that the price of guacamole at Chipotle has caused controversy. In 2015, the company was criticized for increasing the cost of guacamole by 6.25%, citing a shortage of avocados and rising prices. However, this is the first known incident in which a dispute over guacamole has resulted in violence.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the victim remains in the hospital and the suspect is in police custody. The community and Chipotle patrons are hoping for a peaceful resolution and justice for all parties involved. In the meantime, Chipotle has closed the Southfield location and is offering support to their employees who were traumatized by this senseless act of violence.
