Jorge Arbaiza Texas grandfather killed by gang crossfire buying McDonald’s Happy Meals for his grandkids at Katy outlet. Antoine Ridge with a history of felony convictions but no prison prior prison time, charged with murder.
A Texas grandfather was shot and killed after the ‘innocent bystander’ getting struck by gunfire after walking into a McDonald’s to buy Happy Meals for his grandkids.
Jorge Arbaiza, 61, was caught in the crossfire of an alleged gang-related shooting erupting at the fast food outlet just after 5 pm, Sunday, March 16 at a McDonald’s in Katy, which is a suburb of Houston.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the victim was shot five times before collapsing to the floor. But what most unraveled the sheriff and fellow deputies was grandfather’s final act before succumbing to his injuries.
‘I’m dying, I’m going to die,’
‘What struck a nerve for our team and I was this: Mr. Arbaiza’s lasting gesture as he took his last breath was him making the sign of the cross of Jesus Christ and praying,’ the sheriff said according to KHOU News.
Arbaiza’s wife, Teresa, told the outlet that she spoke with him on the phone when the shooting began.
Even though she was terrified for her husband’s life, she was forced to stay in the car to look after her grandchildren, who were waiting for their Happy Meals.
‘I’m dying, I’m going to die,’ Teresa said her husband told her over the phone.
The wife recounted seeing a man with a gun walking into the fast food chain and people running out soon after.
‘I couldn’t leave the kids alone — I could not go inside — the kids were crying, and they were scared,’ she added.
Teresa and Abraiza has been married for 39 years before his death.
Investigators said a group of six to seven young people, boys and girls, were inside the restaurant ordering when another group of two to three young men walked in.
Deputies said there was some sort of physical fight between the two groups, and then several shots being fired.
Several children witnessed the terror but were unharmed by the gunshots. Arbaiza, who was not involved in the altercation and had been ordering at the counter was shot multiple times, before bleeding to death. The 61 year old man was the only fatality according to Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
An unnamed 25-year-old man was also shot but is expected to recover. ABC11 reported the man being involved in the altercation.
When emergency services arrived, Arbaiza was transported by life flight to the hospital but eventually died from his gunshot wounds.
Texas murder suspect prior felony convictions but no prison time
Violent Crimes Detectives declared the case a homicide and identified the suspect’s vehicle from security camera footage. Reports told of two groups involved who left the scene in two separate cars.
On Thursday morning, authorities arrested Antoine Ridge, 24, on murder charges. He was booked into the county jail on a $1 million bond.
Ridge already had a warrant out for his arrest for aggravated assault against a family member and was facing reckless driving charges.
He had also previously been arrested for burglary, two assault charges resulting in bodily injury, and fraud, according to his criminal record in Harris County. The man also had ties to criminal cases in Florida, where he was convicted on two felonies and a misdemeanor in Okalooska County, in 2024, FOX26 reported.
Each time, Ridge was sentenced to probation where he was documented performing poorly.
On account of already being a wanted fugitive in Texas on a 2023 charge of aggravated assault charge on a family member, Ridge should have been back in prison according to Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers.
Ridge waived his right to appear in court for a hearing on his bond, with his next court date set for Monday.
Meanwhile, Arbaiza’s family is grieving the loss of a beloved grandfather and father. His children set up a GoFundMe to help his wife, Teresa.
‘Our family has been devastated and changed forever,’ the description of the fundraiser read.
‘There are no words that can do our father justice, and anyone that had the pleasure of meeting him understands why.’
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office along with the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team and the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force continue to investigate the shooting.
