A fight that broke out when somebody jumped ahead in a line for Popeyes’ popular chicken sandwich turned deadly in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Monday night.
Prince George’s County police said a 28-year-old man died after he was stabbed multiple times in the parking lot of the restaurant on Livingston Road in Oxon Hill Plaza.
“We have been able to determine that preliminarily this is related to the release of the sandwich here at this restaurant. This individual was in line, a line specifically for the sale of the sandwich, when another customer and he got into an altercation. That ended with the victim being stabbed outside of the business,” said Jennifer Donelan, spokeswoman for the police department, during a news conference.
When police got on the scene around 7 p.m., officers immediately started lifesaving measures. The victim died 51 minutes later at the hospital, Donelan said.
“Knowing that a life was taken, it is hard to put into words. I can’t find the right words to describe what was done to this innocent victim,” Donelan said.
Donelan said it is hard to believe that someone cutting in line could lead to such violence.
“For you to get that angry over anything, for that type of anger to develop into this type of violence, again, is a very sad and tragic day and that person needs to turn himself in,” she said.
“We are asking the person who did this to come forward. He needs to do the right thing and step up.”
Police also are asking anyone who was in the restaurant in the 6200 block of Livingston Road to call them at 301-352-1200
Popeyes resumed selling its chicken sandwich on Sunday. First released Aug. 12, the chain credited popular demand to its supply selling out by the end of that month. It’s also been credited with causing long lines and hourslong waits across the county.
Below is a map of where the incident took place.
WTOP’s Abigail Contstantino and Liz Anderson contributed to this story.
