A lawyer was shot and killed by an irate customer at a Houston McDonald’s after trying to calm a man who was angry about his order, police said.
The 46-year-old attorney, identified by his family as Jeffrey Rimmer, tried to intervene when a customer demanded a refund from an employee at the McDonald’s on the West Interstate 10 service road Saturday around 6 p.m. .
The suspect then turned his attention to Rimmer instead of calming down, and the two began arguing.
Police say the argument turned physical as the two were walking to the parking lot, where Rimmer pushed the man to the ground.
The customer pulled a gun from his car and shot Rimmer before fleeing in a blue Ford pickup truck.
Rimmer was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, no arrests have been made.
“Knowing Jeff, he’s always the one to say, ‘Calm down. It’s not that big of a deal,’ and deflect the situation,” said Rimmer’s sister, Jennifer Thomas. told ABC13. “He always wanted to fight for this little guy and do the right thing.”
Rimmer lived near a McDonald’s and often ordered there, his sister said. He attended the University of Texas and received his law degree from South Texas College of Law.
He worked as an associate at the Louis BriseBois law firm in Houston.
Thomas said he wasn’t surprised that his brother was trying to comfort the man who killed him. Because his brother has spent his entire life helping others.
As the family waits for the shooter to be arrested and brought to justice, she said they are proud of him for standing up for what he believes in.
“He’s a good Samaritan trying to do the right thing and not put McDonald’s employees through that experience,” Thomas said.
