A man who was arrested after leaving his children in a McDonald’s to attend a job interview has received an outpouring of support from the general public.
Chris Louis, a 24-year-old father from Augusta, Georgia, took his 10-year old, 6-year old, and 1-year old children to a McDonald’s with a playground close to where his job interview was on March 22, and left them for a short time so he could try to get employment, according to The Augusta Press.
A customer called the police, and Louis was arrested and charged with “deprivation of a minor.” Now, his story has caught the attention of the public, including ex-NFL player Antonio Brown, who set up a GoFundMe to support Louis and his family.
Brown said: “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.”
People speaking out in support of Louis are saying that he should not be punished with a criminal record for trying to get a job so that he could provide for his family. They are also expressing anger at the cost of living in the U.S., and the fact that a criminal record will make it even more difficult for him to get a job in the future.
Louis’ arrest was first reported by The Augusta Press on March 31. They said a witness reported him when they saw his three kids playing in the playground alone. According to the witness, he left the McDonald’s at 4:30 p.m. and returned at around 6:18 p.m.
The Augusta Press reported that Louis walked his kids to the McDonald’s and, because he did not have a car, felt more comfortable leaving them there during his interview. He then picked them up to walk them home.
Officers were called to the scene, and the children were collected by their mother while Louis was taken into custody.
Three GoFundMe pages, including the one by Antonio Brown, have been set up in support of Louis. They have raised a total of $39,286 so far.
