John McCarthy
HOUSTON — A 61-year-old man was killed in the crossfire of a gunfight between two groups inside a McDonald’s, Texas authorities said.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting between “two groups of possible teenagers,” at a fast-food restaurant, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said March 16 in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Investigators said one group was inside ordering when another group came in and a physical fight broke out, KTRK reported.
Gonzalez said the restaurant “was full of customers, including several children,” when shots were fired.
An “innocent bystander,” 61-year-old, Jorge Arbaiza, was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries, Gonzalez said, calling the incident “senseless.”
Arbaiza was inside picking up Happy Meals for his grandchildren, his wife told KHOU.
A second person believed to have been involved in the fight was also struck but survived, according to Gonzalez.
“It’s amazing that only two people were hit in this incident,” Lt. Dennis Wolfford said at the scene, KPRC reported.
Gonzalez said detectives found “a suspect vehicle” and several people involved in the incident. The sheriff said the shooting is under investigation.
By LAUREN LIEBHABER/McClatchy News
Lauren Liebhaber is a National Real-Time Reporter for McClatchy.
