Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - A Georgia, USA father of three was arrested after leaving his young children unattended at a McDonald’s while attending a nearby job interview.
Chris Louis, 24, reportedly walked with his children—ages 1,
6, and 10—from their apartment to the fast-food restaurant in Augusta before
4:30 p.m. on March 22, according to The Augusta Press.
While Louis was away, the children remained inside the
restaurant, which features an indoor play area. A concerned customer noticed
Louis leave, briefly return to check on his kids, and then leave again before
contacting authorities.
Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to find the
children unharmed but unaccompanied. They remained at the restaurant under
police supervision until their father returned just before 6:20 p.m., at which
point officers confronted him.
Louis, who does not own a car, told police he had left his
children at McDonald’s to avoid making them walk home while he attended his
interview
Their mother later arrived to take the children home, while
Louis was arrested and charged with deprivation of a minor.
The arrest gained widespread attention online, including
from former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
“Story
caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his
family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the
means for babysitting, etc.,” Brown wrote on GoFundMe.
Brown, 36, stated that he has not yet spoken to Louis but
hopes to do so. He set up a fundraiser to assist the struggling father,
ensuring that all proceeds would go directly to him.
“Chris was
on the Pursuit of Happiness & sometimes people just need help,” Brown
posted on X. The father of six also personally donated $1,000 to the
fundraiser.
Launched late Tuesday night, the GoFundMe campaign has
already raised over $28,000 toward its $50,000 goal within the first five
hours.
The arrest sparked debate across social media, with many users expressing
sympathy for Louis.
“You simply can’t leave your kids like that, and I get how this happened.
But there are plenty of questions,” one X user commented.
Another added, “Yeah, it’s a little iffy on the 1-year-old, but dude was
trying to get a job. Give him a break.”
“I know it’s a desperate situation, and the brother made a mistake, but an
understandable one. All he could think about was the hope of a job,” a third
user shared.
Another comment read, “Dude was literally doing the best he could with what he has. I commend him for that. It’s not easy.”
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