A big-hearted man was fatally shot in the head at a Florida Waffle House over the weekend after he picked up the tabs of other customers and handed out cash, police said.
Craig Brewer, 41, was gunned down early Sunday at around 3 a.m. at a Gainesville location of the chain by another patron identified by cops as 25-year-old Ezekiel Hicks, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Brewer’s good deeds at the Waffle House led to resentment by one woman inside the restaurant, which apparently sparked an argument between the victim and his alleged killer, The Gainesville Sun reported.
Brewer had paid the bills of other patrons and doled out $20 bills to some customers, the news site reported.
“The victim was engaging folks at the restaurant, and there was a disagreement with a female customer,” said Lt. Brett Rhodenizer, according to The Gainesville Sun.
That’s when Hicks confronted Brewer and the two got into an argument, according to cops.
Hicks then left the Waffle House and while outside, he armed himself with a 9 mm handgun, police said.
“Despite the efforts of at least one bystander, the suspect went back inside, approached the victim, and a physical fight started,” Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said.
As the fracas continued, Hicks allegedly pulled the handgun from his pants and shot Brewer in the head in an attack that was captured on surveillance footage, authorities said.
“What we’re trying to find out in the days ahead is if this was truly a verbal argument that turned into a murder case or if there is something missing there,” Rhodenizer said.
According to cops, deputies were already responding to requests from the business to help disperse a large crowd that had gathered moments before the shooting.
Hicks was arrested near the scene on a charge of first-degree murder.
According to The Gainesville Sun, Hicks previously faced drug charges in 2017, but avoided jail time after undergoing a pretrial diversion program.
The Waffle House where the bloodshed occurred has since reopened.