The chicken sandwich wars escalated Monday night in Houston when an enraged customer pulled a gun on Popeyes employees when he was told the restaurant was sold out of chicken sandwiches.
It happened around 8:45 p.m. at a Popeyes in southern Houston. According to police, a group of people _ two women, three men and a baby _ were told they couldn't order the popular but hard-to-find new chicken sandwich.
The angry customers, including a man who pulled a gun, then tried to go inside the restaurant, but an employee was able to lock the door and keep them out, according to Houston television station KTRK.
"One of the males became enraged, pulled a pistol and threatened the employees of the store because they didn't have a chicken sandwich," Houston police spokesman Larry Crowson said.
The customers left the baby in their vehicle when they tried to enter the restaurant, KTRK reported.
Popeyes has been overwhelmed with demand ever since it launched the new chicken sandwich in August. Its unveiling has ignited a playful "chicken sandwich war" between the restaurant and Chick-fil-A, but few sandwich-related crimes had been reported until now.
In the Houston incident, the suspects eventually fled in a dark-colored SUV, Crowson said.
The suspect with a gun was described as having short dreadlocks, tattoos on his face and was wearing a black shirt with red sleeves, KTRK reported.
No shots were fired and no one was injured, Crowson said.
