SPARTANBURG, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A fight broke out at Boots and Sonny’s restaurant in Spartanburg Monday afternoon, and an employee stepped in to break it up when no one else did.
Employee breaks up fight
The incident was caught on camera. Video shows one man bumping into another before punches were thrown. People in the lobby froze until employee, Hakeem LaPierre stepped in to separate the two men.
“It was a regular day and somebody decided to fight,” said LaPierre. “All I know is he stepped on that man’s foot and I know he stepped on the wrong toe.”
LaPierre said he watched as the confrontation escalated while others in the lobby did not act.
“I saw it was a young guy jumping on an older man and then I saw a lobby full of men and nobody moved,” LaPierre said.
LaPierre said he decided to separate the two men after seeing injuries from the fight.
“I’m like I got to separate the two because he already bust the man face open and he rip his shirt,” LaPierre said.
LaPierre pulled the two men apart without hesitation.
“I don’t do any weight training, I’m naturally strong,” LaPierre said.
LaPierre has worked at the restaurant for two months. Some have described him as acting quickly to defuse the situation and keep everyone safe.
LaPierre said he does not consider himself a hero.
“I’m not looking for the hero title. I just do what I expect another person to do if they see that happening to my father or grandfather,” LaPierre said.
Staff said the man accused of starting the fight causes problems often.
Police report
According to a police report of the incident, a man said he was walking out of the restaurant when another man stomped on his foot. He then asked why he did this before the other man starting punching him in the face.
The victim then threw the other man over the counter. He got up and began hitting one of the workers behind he counter. Other employees then began to hit the man to get him to stop trying to fight, the police report said.
Officers said a description of the man matched that of a vandalism suspect who threw a large chunk of concrete at the front window of a black Dodge on South Church Street.
Suspect charged
According to arrest warrants, Gregory Tyricus Jacobs was charged with two counts of assault and battery – third degree.
Gregory Jacobs(Spartanburg Police Department)
He was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center and issued a $1,344.44 surety bond, jail officials said.
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