The manager of a Popeyes restaurant on South Boulevard close to Carolina Pavilion Drive was arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on May 11. Rodney Wood, 22, was accused of shooting his coworker over “burnt biscuits.”
Wood was taken into custody and charged with attempted first-degree murder.
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A witness who was a customer when the incident occurred told police that Wood and another employee got into a fight over overcooked biscuits.
According to the witness, one “challenged” the other, which resulted in a physical altercation, and both went outside. Wood allegedly drew a firearm and shot two bullets during the altercation, according to WBTV.
According to court filings, a video captured “[Wood] discharging his firearm twice at point-blank range.”
Wood’s coworker took two bullets, one to the chest and one to the crotch. In a critical, life-threatening state, the employee was taken to Atrium Health Main and had emergency surgery.
Wood had left the restaurant by the time police arrived. More witnesses claim that he fled, and police swiftly located and captured him in the same retail mall.
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Wood allegedly told police that the coworker he was accused of shooting was also a manager. Wood also reportedly told the authorities that when he and the other manager stepped outside, he was hit three times in the face, provoking him to fire two “warning shots” that were not intended to kill.
According to the affidavit, despite Wood’s efforts to defend his actions, “he failed to articulate a credible, imminent threat of deadly force necessary to support a self-defense claim under state law.”
The two allegedly had past disagreements, prompting Wood to ask for a transfer to stop working with the victim.
