Hot oil used in fight between Taco Bell workers, customers
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A vicious fight inside a Taco Bell left two customers with hot oil burns and a third with stab wounds, but so far no one is facing any charges.
Police say they're still trying to figure out what exactly happened during the June 1 fight at a Taco Bell in the 3100 block of the South Loop West.
Haronisha Alexander says she, her boyfriend and another friend went through the drive-thru and she tossed a bottle outside the window because it was raining. The restaurant's manager came out, and an argument ensued. Alexander says a Taco Bell employee then poured hot oil all over her boyfriend and stabbed their friend. She says she called police and while she was waiting for them to arrive, she got hot oil poured on her.
HPD says a police report filed by a Taco Bell employee tells a completely different story.
A vicious fight inside a Taco Bell left two customers with hot oil burns and a third with stab wounds, but so far no one is facing any charges.
Police say they're still trying to figure out what exactly happened during the June 1 fight at a Taco Bell in the 3100 block of the South Loop West.
Today, community activist Quanell X and Haronisha Alexander, one of the people involved in the fight, called a news conference at the Taco Bell location.
Alexander says she, her boyfriend and another friend went through the drive-thru on June 1, and she tossed a bottle outside the window because it was raining. The restaurant's manager came out, and an argument erupted. That argument apparently continued inside the Taco Bell, where chairs were thrown.
"They were just running all over, everyone was throwing chairs. And once, my boyfriend opened the door, they just threw hot grease," said Alexander.
HPD says a police report filed by a Taco Bell employee tells a completely different story.
Police say the employees allege that it was Alexander's group that instigated the fight. According to the police report, employees poured grease on Alexander because she threw rocks at them and they were in fear for their lives.
Alexander has visible burns on her neck and arm, and she says her boyfriend was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he is about to go into surgery.
"Somebody should be in jail for these type of injuries, stabbing someone, these types of burns, a young man in the hospital," said Quanell X.
Even today, it's clear the dispute is not yet over. Employees at the Taco Bell called police while the news conference was underway. Police showed up, questioned Alexander, then left.
Right now, it appears all the employees involved in the brawl are still working there.
Taco Bell released the following statement:
"The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority and we are very upset this happened in our restaurant. We are cooperating with the Houston police in their investigation and are in process of filing charges and property damage complaints with them. This was a traumatic incident for our employees and we are supporting them by offering counselling."
Houston police tells Eyewitness News that the investigation is ongoing. Investigators are working to get surveillance video, hoping it will shed more light on exactly which side, or perhaps both sides, are at fault.
