A young father in Georgia is facing legal trouble after leaving his three children alone at a McDonald’s playground while he attended a job interview. Chris Louis, 24, was arrested on March 22 in Augusta after witnesses reported seeing him leave his kids, aged 1, 6, and 10, unattended.
Louis had walked the children to the restaurant shortly before 4:30 p.m. A concerned customer called the police after noticing the kids were left alone. Louis returned to check on them before leaving again. Law enforcement arrived and waited for him to come back, which he did around 6:20 p.m. He explained to the officers that he didn’t want his children to walk home by themselves after the interview.
The police arrested Louis and charged him with deprivation of a minor. The children were picked up by their mother after the incident.
The story has sparked a heated debate online, with many people taking sides. Former NFL player Antonio Brown has publicly supported Louis, even starting a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for him. Brown emphasized that Louis is just a father trying to provide for his family, despite making a questionable decision.
As of Wednesday morning, the campaign has raised over $40,000 of its $50,000 goal, with contributions coming from various supporters, including Brown himself. Many online commenters praised Louis for his efforts to find work, arguing that he should not be punished for trying to support his family.
Some, however, have raised doubts about the situation. Critics questioned whether Louis was genuinely attending a job interview and suggested he should have arranged for a babysitter instead. Others pointed out that leaving children unsupervised in a busy McDonald’s, particularly in an area known for safety concerns, was unwise.
While some believe Louis should face consequences, others think a warning would have been more appropriate. The incident highlights the challenges many parents face when trying to balance work and childcare, often leading to difficult decisions.