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Inset: Jamaal Jenkins. Background: The Chick-fil-A in Snellville. Georgia, where Jenkins allegedly shot a fellow customer (WSB/YouTube).
A confrontation at a Chick-fil-A in Georgia escalated to violence when a customer shot another man in the chest after making derogatory remarks about his cigarette smoke odor, according to police reports.
Jamaal Jenkins, 44, is now facing several charges, including aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and reckless conduct, as indicated by court documents.
The incident took place on April 7 at the Chick-fil-A located on the 1500 block of Scenic Highway in Snellville, a suburb of Atlanta. On Wednesday, Jenkins appeared before a Gwinnett County judge to assess whether the case should proceed to a higher court.
During a hearing covered by local ABC affiliate WSB, a detective from the Snellville Police Department testified that Jenkins and the victim were strangers at the time of the altercation. While standing in line, Jenkins allegedly began to insult the victim with racial slurs, police said.
Snellville Police Detective Victor Martinez Martinez detailed the exchange, saying, “He initiated the conversation by telling him that he smelled like cigarette smoke. The defendant then called the victim a weirdo and used a racial slur.”
The victim allegedly punched Jenkins in the face. That’s when Jenkins pulled out a Glock 42 and fired three shots, hitting the victim once in the chest, Martinez testified, per WSB.
Jenkins was allegedly not done.
“The defendant chased the victim and attempted to continue shooting until his handgun malfunctioned,” Martinez reportedly testified.
Martinez noted that the victim likely would have died if Jenkins had kept firing the gun.
Jenkins’ attorney is saying her client was defending himself because the victim threw a punch. Her client has no prior felony convictions.
According to WSB, prosecutors deemed Jenkins a danger to the community due to his alleged choice to open fire at a crowded restaurant.
The judge reportedly bound the case over to the Superior Court. His next court date is not listed. He remains in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.