Houston fast-food shooting: Lawyer Jeffrey Limmer killed after trying to calm angry customers at McDonald’s employees

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston-area lawyer was shot and killed outside a McDonald’s on the city’s west side this weekend after trying to calm down an angry customer who was unhappy with his order, detectives say.

Houston Police Department patrol officers responded to the shooting at 8147 Katy Freeway around 6 p.m. Saturday.

According to detectives, a customer was angry with employees over his order and demanded a refund. The victim, Jeffrey Limmer, 46, attempted to calm the customer and the customer then focused his attention on Limmer.

The fight took place outside and Limmer pushed the customer to the ground, detectives said. The customer then went to his car to pull out a gun and allegedly shot Limmer before fleeing the scene in a blue early 2000s Ford pickup truck.

ONLY ON ABC13Limmer’s sister, Jennifer Thomas, said her parents were at her daughter’s graduation when they received the devastating news.

“He loved his family and friends fiercely,” Thomas told Eyewitness News. “Always laugh, make jokes and love life.”

According to his sister, Limmer lived near the McDonalds and visited there frequently. He played quarterback for Memorial High School’s football team and was an outfielder for their baseball team.

Limmer attended the University of Texas and then earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law.

He was a partner at a Houston-area law firm, and his sister said he spent his career trying to help others. So it came as no surprise when detectives said that’s what he was doing in his final moments.

“Knowing Jeff, he’s the one who always says, ‘Calm down. It’s not that bad,’ and deflects the situation,” Thomas said. “He always wanted to fight for the little guy and do the right thing.”

As police search for the shooter and Limmer’s family awaits justice, his sister said she is proud that he stood up for what he believed was right.

“A good Samaritan trying to do the right thing and not let McDonald’s employees go through this,” Thomas said.

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