FL - Craig Brewer, 41, Gainesville: Waffle House Murder, 7 April 2019

[Indy Anna]

Florida good Samaritan shot dead after picking up tabs at Waffle House

Craig Brewer, 41, was shot in the head and killed at about 3 a.m. during an "altercation" at a Gainesville Waffle House, according to a statement from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.

The suspected shooter, Ezekiel Hicks, 25, was arrested at the scene.

The Gainesville Sun reported that Brewer was picking up customers' tabs and handing out $20 bills, and a woman who was there with Hicks got angry because Brewer hadn't paid for her meal.


Waffle House murder victim paid for others' meals, handed out cash

Deputies responded to the Waffle House early Sunday after employees called 911 to report it had reached maximum capacity but customers were refusing to leave, Rhodenizer said. They arrived to find Brewer with gunshot wounds to the head.

They believe the shooting occurred just before they got there or as they were arriving, Rhodenizer said.

An autopsy was scheduled for Monday morning and deputies are working to find out the relationship between Hicks and Brewer. At the scene, investigators recovered a 9 mm Glock pistol that may have been used in the shooting.

“The evidence in the case is fairly straightforward. We’re working with the state attorney. It’s pretty obvious. We have on video what happened,” Rhodenizer said. “There was at least one gunshot to the head but the medical examiner will offer authoritative information on that.

 

[Indy Anna]

Man fatally shot after buying meals for Waffle House customers

According to authorities, Brewer and Hicks got into an argument at the eatery in Gainesville early Sunday. Hicks left the Waffle House, then returned and got into a physical fight with Brewer and shot him in the head, police said.

Rasheeda Johnson told WGFL her cousin was paying for other people's food moments before he was shot right in front of her.
[...]
Hicks, who is being held without bond, was charged with first-degree murder and carrying an unlicensed firearm, jail records show.

 

[Indy Anna]

Booking Details
http://oldweb.circuit8.org/cgi-bin/jaildetail.cgi?bookno=ASO19JBN002005

 

[Shin Masamura]

Basically, the shooters girlfriend felt slighted that she didn't get a free $20, which led to the altercation, then with the shooter, who left and then came back and shot him.. I think the youngsters call that ratchet...

 

[Herat]

Going to spend the rest of your life tossed away in a prison because you were showing off to your girlfriend who wanted a free $20 bill.

Murder a kind man over $20...

Murdered a very kind man.

My condolences to the friends and family of Craig Brewer

 

[cluciano63]

No good deed goes unpunished...?

Good grief. This is horrendous.

 

[Indy Anna]

Basically, the shooters girlfriend felt slighted that she didn't get a free $20, which led to the altercation, then with the shooter, who left and then came back and shot him.. I think the youngsters call that ratchet...

BBM This I can't understand...the feeling of entitlement. Brewer wasn't obligated to give anyone anything. I could understand feeling hurt, overlooked...but belligerence because you didn't get something you weren't entitled to in the first place is just unthinkable. Then, the shooter took it beyond that. smh

 

[Herat]

BBM This I can't understand...the feeling of entitlement. Brewer wasn't obligated to give anyone anything. I could understand feeling hurt, overlooked...but belligerence because you didn't get something you weren't entitled to in the first place is just unthinkable. Then, the shooter took it beyond that. smh

And that girlfriend will dump the perp the instant he goes to prison

 

[Indy Anna]

And that girlfriend will dump the perp the instant he goes to prison

IDK. I was thinking that it will be interesting to see if she does. Sometimes, a partner will continue to stand by a killer once he/she is behind bars.

 

[PayrollNerd]

IDK. I was thinking that it will be interesting to see if she does. Sometimes, a partner will continue to stand by a killer once he/she is behind bars.

She should join him in prison if she thinks that much of him. No cure for stupid. It’s perfectly legal to be stupid and express it for all the world to see. LOL!

 

[PayrollNerd]

Interview with the victims sister last year.

Florida Waffle House victim Craig Brewer's sister asks for prayers — for suspect's family

Ross said that as a devout Christian, she holds no hate in her heart for Hicks.

"I don't hold any grudges against him. I'm not angry with him," she told ABC News. "People have been sending their prayers and condolences to our family. So I asked them to pray for his [Hick's] family as well. His family has lost him because I'm sure he's going to be in prison for a while. Just pray for him because ... God is love and we can't hold any hate in our hearts for people. I don't."

She said if she could say anything to her brother's alleged killer it would be, "People have to make better choices."

"We can say, 'Put the guns down,' but it starts with the individual to start making better choices," she said. "Just think before you react.'"

 

[PayrollNerd]

9-1-1 recordings released after deadly shooting at Waffle House
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB)-- UPDATE: New recordings of 9-1-1 calls from the scene have been released by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, as investigators continue to search for a motive.

In one recording, the caller can be heard saying, "A dude in a big shirt, a really big dude in a green shirt came in, shot some dude in the head and ran away."

Surveillance video from inside the restaurant that captured the incident has been delivered to the state attorney's office, which is holding the video as evidence.

ASO Spokesman Lt. Brett Rhodenizer said there were a number of groups at businesses along Newberry Rd. at the time, some from a concert that had just taken place in Newberry.

"We had several large groups up and down Newberry Road that evening," Rhodenizer said. "And this group of folks were still there in the Waffle House, refusing to leave, and ultimately that's when the altercation ensued."

Investigators are still searching for a motive, while the restaurant was reopened as soon as Sunday afternoon.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Looks like the court case is moving along now.
Court Records
06/04/2020 NOTICE ISSUED TO ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT - JYS
06/04/2020 NOTICE ISSUED TO ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT - TSC
06/04/2020 NOTICE ISSUED TO ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT - PTC
06/04/2020 CRIMINAL COURT EVENT SET
Event: Jury Selection
Date: 08/10/2020 Time: 8:30 am
Judge: CIRCUIT, DIVISION 2 CRIMINAL Location: CJC Courtroom 3-C

06/04/2020 CRIMINAL COURT EVENT SET
Event: Trial Status Conference
Date: 08/06/2020 Time: 9:30 am
Judge: CIRCUIT, DIVISION 2 CRIMINAL Location: CJC Courtroom 3-C

06/04/2020 CRIMINAL COURT EVENT SET
Event: Pre-Trial Conference
Date: 07/20/2020 Time: 9:00 am
Judge: CIRCUIT, DIVISION 2 CRIMINAL Location: CJC Courtroom 3-C

06/03/2020 COURT ACTION MEMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

I'm surprised it is going to a jury since there is video.
Court Records
Event Date Time Judge Result
Jury Selection 08/10/2020 08:30 AM COLAW, JAMES M
Trial Status Conference 08/06/2020 09:30 AM COLAW, JAMES M
Pre-Trial Conference 07/20/2020 09:00 AM COLAW, JAMES M
Case Management 06/03/2020 02:00 PM COLAW, JAMES M