Rodney Wood, a 22-year-old Popeyes manager in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder after allegedly shooting a fellow employee during a heated argument over burnt biscuits.
Wood was arrested on the evening of Sunday, May 11, and now faces charges including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, according to arrest records from Mecklenburg County.
According to People, the incident unfolded at a Popeyes restaurant located on South Boulevard, where a verbal dispute between Wood and another manager reportedly escalated in front of customers. A police affidavit, cited by WBTV, states that the disagreement centered around biscuits that were allegedly burned during the shift.
A witness told authorities the confrontation turned physical after the two stepped outside, where one reportedly “challenged” the other.
During the altercation, Wood allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot his coworker twice at close range. Court documents indicate that surveillance footage from the scene appears to show Wood firing two shots at point-blank range. The victim, whose identity has not been released, sustained gunshot wounds to the groin and chest and was rushed to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Following the shooting, Wood reportedly fled the restaurant but was found shortly afterward in the same shopping center. Upon being taken into custody, he allegedly told police that his coworker had punched him three times in the face, prompting him to fire what he described as “two warning shots.” However, investigators concluded that Wood did not present a valid case for self-defense under state law.
As of May 17, Wood remains in custody with bond set at $50,000. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has not yet responded to media requests for further comment. The investigation is ongoing, and the condition of the victim following surgery has not been publicly updated.
