A Texas lawyer, aged 46, was fatally shot while attempting to mediate a dispute at a McDonald’s restaurant in Houston, Texas. The disagreement was between an irate customer and the restaurant’s staff.
The attorney, Jeffrey Limmer, stepped in to defuse the situation at the McDonald’s located at 8147 Katy Freeway on Saturday evening, May 4. The customer was loudly arguing with the staff over his order and demanding a refund.
According to witnesses, Limmer approached the unhappy customer in an attempt to calm the tense situation. However, the customer redirected his anger towards Limmer, leading to a physical confrontation outside the restaurant.
After Limmer pushed the customer to the ground, the man got up, returned to his car, and retrieved a gun. The Houston Police Department reports that the suspect then shot Limmer twice before escaping in a blue Ford pickup truck from the early 2000s. Limmer succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Limmer’s family members were not surprised by his final act of courage. Jennifer Thomas, Limmer’s sister, remarked to local media, “Jeff was always the one to say, ‘Relax, it’s not that serious,’ and defuse the tension. He consistently stood up for the underdog and did what was right.”
Thomas reiterated that Jeff was someone who always wanted to stand up for the less fortunate and do the right thing. She characterized him as a “Good Samaritan who is trying to do the right thing and not letting those employees at McDonald’s go through that.”
Limmer worked as an associate attorney at Lewis Brisbois, a Houston-based law firm. He was a University of Texas at Austin and South Texas College of Law graduate. He also played quarterback for the Memorial High School football team and was an outfielder for the school’s baseball team. According to Thomas, he lived near the McDonald’s and would often go there to complete his work.
Greg Monteverde, a close friend of Limmer’s, spoke to Fox26, saying, “Jeff stepped in to try and de-escalate the situation and calm him down. I thought it was brave. I respect it. Many of us knew Jeff to be that type of individual.” He also recalled how Limmer would invite less popular students to parties during their school days.
In addition to his legal career, Limmer was deeply connected to his faith. He and Monteverde attended the same church since their childhood. Monteverde expressed his belief that Limmer is now in Heaven, assuring everyone that it’s going to be OK.
Limmer’s sister, Thomas, fondly remembered her brother, saying, “He loved his family and friends fiercely. He was always laughing, making jokes, and just loving life.”
The Homicide Division of the Houston Police Department has requested anyone with information about the suspect or the vehicle to come forward.