A New Jersey Popeyes worker allegedly shot at a car, hitting the driver in the head — with his lawyers arguing he was ambushed and acted in self-defense, according to a report.
Christian Ruiz, 18, a cashier and prep cook at the chicken joint, was supposedly jumped by a group of six people in the parking lot of a Mays Landing Popeyes on June 9, NJ.com reported.
The fast food worker suffered injuries to his face, head and neck, the outlet reported, citing police.
As the crew made their getaway, Ruiz allegedly fired on the car and struck the driver in the head, according to a report from Breaking AC.
The driver was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center where he was treated for the head wound, the report stated.
Ruiz, who also sought medical attention for his injuries, was arrested on June 10, according to the reports.
Lawyers for Ruiz reportedly said the group allegedly rolled-up on the Popeyes employee just after 11 p.m., after the restaurant had closed, to enact a revenge-beatdown for a supposedly messed-up car.
“‘Manny called and said he wanted to do something… He had a plan to get revenge on the people who messed up his car,’” Ruiz’ lawyer John Zarych said in court Tuesday, reading from a police interview with one of the car’s occupants, Breaking AC reported.
Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin stated he was not trying to “belittle” the supposed gang assault — but stated that use of a firearm in response to the assault was “a disproportionate amount of force,” that outlet stated.
The 18-year-old was released from prison on Tuesday and will remain free pending a trial.
Levin, the judge, said it was a “close call” to let him out, Breaking AC reported.
Ruiz’s fellow Popeyes employees were shocked to hear of the explosive incident — telling lawyers for the 18-year-old that he was a model employee who had never missed a shift and had a job waiting for him when his court case was settled, that outlet reported.
Ruiz has been hit with 23 charges including six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault by pointing a firearm and aggravated assault by discharging a firearm into a vehicle.
Neither lawyers for Ruiz nor the Hamilton Township Police Department could be reached for comment.
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