Popeyes Manager In North Carolina Allegedly Shot A Coworker In Dispute Over Burnt Biscuits 😬

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Popeyes manager in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder following a shocking incident on May 11, 2025, where he allegedly shot a coworker during a dispute over burnt biscuits. The incident, which unfolded at a Popeyes location on South Boulevard near Carolina Pavilion Drive, has garnered significant attention online after a post by Raphousetv (RHTV) on X went viral.

According to a police affidavit obtained by local outlet WBTV, Rodney Wood, 22, got into an altercation with a fellow employee around 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 11. A customer who witnessed the incident reported that the disagreement began over “burnt biscuits,” escalating into a heated argument. The situation turned violent when Wood allegedly chased the coworker outside the restaurant and shot them twice—once in the groin and once in the chest. The victim, whose identity has not been released, is currently recovering.

Wood reportedly fled the scene but was apprehended by authorities shortly after in the same shopping center. Court documents reveal that Wood claimed he fired “warning shots” after the coworker punched him during the altercation. He now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Authorities have stated that Wood discharged his firearm at point-blank range, as captured in video evidence cited in the affidavit.

The incident has sparked a range of reactions on social media. Raphousetv’s post, which included a graphic with Wood’s mugshot and the headline “Popeyes Manager in North Carolina Allegedly Sht a Coworker in Dispute Over ‘Burnt Biscuits,’” has been widely shared, amassing thousands of interactions. Some users expressed shock, with @Cesare__Borgia_ commenting, “Emotional outbursts..,” while others, like @bigbootyred123, made light of the situation, stating, “Now his biscuits finnah get burnt. 🥴.”

Channel 9 reached out to Popeyes for comment, inquiring about how an employee was able to bring a firearm to work and whether the company plans to revise its policies. As of this publication, Popeyes has not issued a response.

This incident comes amid growing concerns about workplace violence in the fast-food industry. A 2021 report by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) highlighted a “crisis of violence” in the sector, noting that fast-food workers disproportionately face assault and harassment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023) also reported that 17% of workplace homicides occur in retail and food service settings, often stemming from interpersonal conflicts.

Wood remains in custody as the investigation continues. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.

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### Article 2: Feature Piece
Title: Burnt Biscuits and Broken Trust: A Shooting at Popeyes Exposes the Tensions of Fast-Food Work

Published: May 19, 2025, 02:50 AM WAT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It started with something as trivial as burnt biscuits, but by the end of the day on May 11, 2025, a Popeyes restaurant on South Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina, became the scene of a near-fatal shooting that has left a community reeling and a coworker fighting for their life. Rodney Wood, a 22-year-old manager at the fast-food chain, now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting a fellow employee during a dispute that spiraled out of control.

The incident, first reported by local outlet WBTV and later amplified by a viral X post from Raphousetv (RHTV), has captured national attention—not just for its shocking nature, but for what it reveals about the high-stakes, high-stress environment of fast-food work. According to a police affidavit, the altercation began inside the Popeyes around 6 p.m. A customer who witnessed the event told authorities that Wood and his coworker were arguing over “burnt biscuits”—a seemingly minor issue that quickly escalated. The disagreement moved outside, where Wood allegedly chased the coworker, pulled out a firearm, and shot them twice at point-blank range, striking them in the groin and chest. Video evidence, as cited in court documents, captured the harrowing moment.

Wood fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after in the same shopping center. In his statement to police, he claimed the shots were “warning shots” fired after the coworker punched him. The victim, whose name has not been disclosed, is recovering, but the incident has left a lasting mark on the community and the fast-food industry at large.

Social media reactions to the incident range from disbelief to dark humor. The Raphousetv post, featuring Wood’s mugshot alongside a Popeyes logo and the headline “Popeyes Manager in North Carolina Allegedly Sht a Coworker in Dispute Over ‘Burnt Biscuits,’” has sparked thousands of comments. Some users, like @imkiddingrelax1, quipped, “Gotta make sure quality inspections are there. Good for him. Won’t ever have bad biscuits again,” while others, such as @Mr_A_Sterling, remarked, “Well…if you’re doing stuff like that you’re not off to a good start as a career criminal.”

But beneath the memes and viral posts lies a deeper issue: the volatility of the fast-food workplace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023) reports that 17% of workplace homicides occur in retail and food service settings, often triggered by interpersonal conflicts. A 2021 report by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) painted an even grimmer picture, documenting a “crisis of violence” in the industry. Between 2017 and 2020, the SEIU found that fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and others were the sites of at least 77,000 violent or threatening incidents in California alone. Fast-food workers, often underpaid and overworked, face not only customer aggression but also tensions among coworkers in high-pressure environments where mistakes—like burnt biscuits—can become flashpoints.

The Popeyes shooting isn’t an isolated incident. Earlier this year, a shooting at a Wendy’s in east Charlotte left one person injured, and viral videos of customer outbursts, like the 2021 “chicken nugget standoff” at a Wendy’s drive-thru, highlight the daily challenges fast-food workers face. But when the violence comes from within the team, as it did at Popeyes, it raises even more questions about workplace safety and mental health support. How did Wood, a manager, come to work with a firearm? What policies—or lack thereof—allowed this situation to escalate to gunfire? Channel 9’s inquiry to Popeyes about their employee policies remains unanswered, leaving workers and advocates calling for change.

For now, Rodney Wood awaits trial, his future uncertain. The coworker he shot is on the road to recovery, but the scars—physical and emotional—will linger. And for the fast-food industry, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of a system stretched to its limits. Burnt biscuits may have sparked the conflict, but the underlying tensions reveal a much larger problem—one that demands more than a quick fix.

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Both articles aim to inform while providing context about the broader issue of workplace violence in the fast-food industry, aligning with the details from the X posts and web results. Let me know if you’d like to adjust the tone or focus!

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