A Georgia, USA father of three was arrested after leaving his young children unattended at a McDonald’s while attending a nearby job interview.
Chris Louis, 24, reportedly walked with his children—ages 1, 6, and 10—from their apartment to the fast-food restaurant in Augusta before 4:30 p.m. on March 22, according to The Augusta Press.
While Louis was away, the children remained inside the restaurant, which features an indoor play area. A concerned customer noticed Louis leave, briefly return to check on his kids, and then leave again before contacting authorities.
Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to find the children unharmed but unaccompanied. They remained at the restaurant under police supervision until their father returned just before 6:20 p.m., at which point officers confronted him.
Louis, who does not own a car, told police he had left his children at McDonald’s to avoid making them walk home while he attended his interview.
Their mother later arrived to take the children home, while Louis was arrested and charged with deprivation of a minor.
The arrest gained widespread attention online, including from former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
“Story caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the means for babysitting, etc.,” Brown wrote on GoFundMe.
Brown, 36, stated that he has not yet spoken to Louis but hopes to do so. He set up a fundraiser to assist the struggling father, ensuring that all proceeds would go directly to him.
“Chris was on the Pursuit of Happiness & sometimes people just need help,” Brown posted on X. The father of six also personally donated $1,000 to the fundraiser.
Launched late Tuesday night, the GoFundMe campaign has already raised over $28,000 toward its $50,000 goal within the first five hours.
The arrest sparked debate across social media, with many users expressing sympathy for Louis.
“You simply can’t leave your kids like that, and I get how this happened. But there are plenty of questions,” one X user commented.
Another added, “Yeah, it’s a little iffy on the 1-year-old, but dude was trying to get a job. Give him a break.”
“I know it’s a desperate situation, and the brother made a mistake, but an understandable one. All he could think about was the hope of a job,” a third user shared.
Another comment read, “Dude was literally doing the best he could with what he has. I commend him for that. It’s not easy.”
