In a shocking incident that unfolded at a Jack in the Box drive-thru, a fast-food worker opened fire on a family during a dispute over a missing order of french fries. The unsettling episode occurred in March 2021 near Bush Airport on John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Houston, Texas, and was captured on video.
Anthony Ramos, accompanied by his pregnant wife and 6-year-old daughter, had pulled up to the Houston fast-food establishment that fateful day. Their seemingly routine visit to Jack in the Box would take a nightmarish turn when an employee, identified as Alonniea Ford, became embroiled in a heated exchange with the family.
The catalyst for the confrontation was a missing order of curly fries. Mr. Ramos noticed the omission and, in a bid to rectify the situation, returned to the drive-thru window to address the matter. However, Ford, the employee responsible, refused to fill the order. What began as a simple customer complaint soon escalated into a terrifying ordeal.
Video footage of the incident reveals the shocking sequence of events. Ford can be seen hurling ice and ketchup at Mr. Ramos and his family as the argument intensifies. The situation takes a dire turn when Ford reaches for a firearm. With the family still in their vehicle, Mr. Ramos drives away as Ford begins firing shots at them.
Ford’s actions in this distressing video serve as a grim reminder of how quickly confrontations can escalate to violence. The incident was particularly alarming due to the presence of Mr. Ramos’ pregnant wife and young daughter, who were exposed to grave danger.
Subsequently, authorities released surveillance footage of the incident, more than two years after it occurred. The footage provides a chilling account of events leading up to the shooting. It shows Ford loading a gun in her pocket before leaning through the drive-thru window and discharging her weapon at the family.
Ford’s actions had serious legal consequences. She was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Ultimately, she pleaded guilty to a deadly conduct charge, underscoring the gravity of her actions that day.
Reflecting on the terrifying encounter, Mr. Ramos expressed his shock and fear, stating, “I was dumbfounded by it. I really couldn’t believe what was happening. It was scary. It was very, very scary.” His quick thinking and ability to drive away likely prevented a far more tragic outcome.
In the aftermath of this alarming incident, the Ramos family took legal action against Jack in the Box, alleging gross negligence. The lawsuit, initiated in September of the previous year, aimed to hold the fast-food chain accountable for the traumatic experience they endured.
Ramos, speaking on behalf of his family, emphasized the importance of implementing better policies to ensure that potentially dangerous employees do not have direct contact with the public, where they could pose a significant threat.
Randall Kalinen, the family’s attorney, shed light on the events leading up to the shooting, emphasizing that there was no rush to serve the customers and that the family even offered to pay for the missing curly fries. Yet, despite this, the situation spiraled into shouting and, ultimately, violence.
This shocking incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of conflict resolution and employee training within the fast-food industry. It also highlights the potential dangers that can arise in seemingly routine customer-service interactions. The legal proceedings against Jack in the Box underscore the need for businesses to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of both their employees and customers.