A Texas lawyer, aged 46, was fatally shot after attempting to mitigate a conflict involving a disgruntled customer and the staff at a McDonald’s in Houston, Texas.
On Saturday evening, May 4, Jeffrey Limmer was dining at the restaurant on 8147 Katy Freeway when he stepped in to pacify a man who was loudly arguing with the employees about his order and insisting on a refund.
Eyewitnesses stated that Limmer approached the irate customer in an attempt to resolve the conflict. However, the customer redirected his anger towards Limmer, resulting in a physical confrontation outside the fast-food chain.
Following a scuffle in which Limmer pushed the customer to the ground, the man retreated to his car, retrieved a firearm, and shot Limmer twice. The assailant then fled the scene in a blue Ford pickup truck from the early 2000s, as per the information provided by the Houston Police detectives. Limmer succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Limmer’s final act of courage did not come as a surprise to his family. His sister, Jennifer Thomas, shared with local press, “Jeff was always the one to say, ‘Relax, it’s not that serious,’ and defuse the tension. He consistently stood up for the underdog and did what was right.”
Thomas emphasized her brother’s desire to champion the less privileged and uphold justice. She described him as a “Good Samaritan who is trying to do the right thing and not letting those employees at McDonald’s go through that.”
Limmer was an associate attorney at Lewis Brisbois, a Houston-based law firm. He held degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the South Texas College of Law. His sister mentioned that he lived near the McDonald’s where the incident occurred and often visited the place to finish up his work.
Greg Monteverde, a close friend of Limmer, told Fox26, “Jeff stepped in to try and de-escalate the situation and calm him down. I thought it was brave. I respect it. Many of us knew Jeff to be that type of individual.”
Besides his legal profession, Limmer was deeply devoted to his faith. He and Monteverde had been attending the same church since their childhood. “He’s in Heaven. He’s looking down on all of us, saying it’s going to be OK,” said Monteverde.
Reflecting on her brother’s life, Thomas stated, “He loved his family and friends fiercely. He was always laughing, making jokes, and just loving life.”
The Houston Police Department is seeking any information regarding the suspect or the vehicle. They have asked individuals to contact the Homicide Division with any relevant details.
