Waffle House, a good Samaritan slaughtered, paying for meals and distributing $ 20 bills

A good Samaritan was shot dead over the weekend while he was distributing $ 20 bills and paying for his meals at a Florida restaurant, police said.

Police arrested 25-year-old Ezekiel Hicks, accused of murder early Sunday in the death of 41-year-old Craig Brewer, who was shot dead in a Waffle House in Gainesville, Florida, just a few kilometers from town. University of Florida.

Officials from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office said the restaurant's surveillance camera had filmed an altercation between the two. Witnesses testified that the victim was arguing with an acquaintance of the suspect, who would have been upset that Brewer's generosity did not include her.

Of all the surveys I've seen, very rarely, you have an incident from the beginning to the end of a video that ends in murder.

Hicks intervened and began a physical altercation with the victim, the police said. At one point, Hicks left Waffle House and retrieved a 9mm Glock pistol, which was later found on the scene, according to the sheriff's office.

The altercation "lasted only a few seconds" and ended when Hicks fired several shots at the victim's head, killing him on the spot, the sheriff's office announced.

Lieutenant Brett Rhodenizer, a spokesman for the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, said the officers had received a call saying the restaurant had reached full capacity and were on the way when the shooting had taken place.

"They feel like they are so close and far enough away from where they can not change the outcome," Rhodenizer told ABC News on Monday. "This incident went from a verbal altercation to a homicide in minutes, if not seconds."

"The speed at which this happened and how fast it went – both for the victim and for the suspect – is really one of the things that resonates the most in many people who have been involved in it. investigation, "he added.

Hicks was arrested in the parking lot, where he admitted to shooting at Brewer, according to the sheriff's office. Investigators are now investigating whether the victim may have already had a problem with the suspect or with his acquaintance that led to the dispute.

"The reason for this case will persist for days and weeks as we conduct follow-up interviews, but the how is incredibly simple," said Rhodenizer. "Of all the surveys I've seen, very rarely do you have an incident from the beginning to the end of a video that ends in a murder.

"It was literally a few numbers from the moment we received the first waffle house call, saying," Hey, there are too many people here, we'd like to have a hand to clean the restaurant " scene, talked about a shootout, and we have a suspect in custody and a firearm recovered. "

Hicks was held without bail for first degree murder and carries a license-free firearm. His lawyer did not immediately respond to ABC News's requests for comment.