Texas Popeyes Employee Fired After Selling Drugs And Shooting At Person While On The Clock

A Popeyes employee in Harris County, Texas was arrested for selling drugs and shooting at someone during a drug exchange gone wrong.

Location

Harris County Pct. 4 constables responded to reports of a shooting at the Popeyes located in the 8400 Block of FM 1960 Bypass Road West at around 4 p.m.

Selling Drugs At Work

Yadiel Gonzalez was identified as the employee involved. It was discovered that Gonzalez was selling marijuana while on the clock, passing a phone number to individuals who came into the restaurant with the smell of marijuana and actively selling drugs while working.

“The employee was working the drive-thru or working the front cash system. And if an individual comes into the restaurant or a vehicle comes through the drive-thru with the smell of marijuana emitting from their person and or the vehicle, he would pass them a phone number and let them know he is selling the marijuana himself and to call him if they needed some,” said Capt. Buddy Gheen with the Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office.

Drug Deal Gone Wrong

An unknown man came into the restaurant to purchase marijuana from Gonzalez, and the two went into the restroom to conduct the sale. The unknown man tried to steal Gonzalez’s backpack, which contained the drugs, leading to a fight that escalated outside the restaurant.

Gonzalez then pulled out a gun and shot at the unknown man at least seven times. The man ran off, and deputies later recovered the backpack containing the drugs and the gun from a trash bin.

Arrested And Charged

Gonzalez was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon, deadly conduct, and tampering with evidence and is 19 years old.

Popeyes’ corporate office released a statement calling the behavior "dangerous and unacceptable" and revealing that Gonzalez was terminated immediately.

“This dangerous and unacceptable behavior involved a teenager who was employed for less than a month at this Texas restaurant. The employee involved was immediately terminated, and the franchisee who owns this restaurant is sharing everything with the local police”

Gonzalez’s bond was set at $20,100.

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