Man shoots into Church’s Chicken when he’s denied free water cup, Missouri cops say

A man shot into a Church’s Chicken, injuring an employee, when he was denied a free water cup at the restaurant, Missouri authorities say.

The Ferguson Police Department said 23-year-old Cameron Clay entered a Church’s Chicken on Feb. 21 and “demanded a cup of water for free.”

When he was told it would cost money, he became “combative” and started knocking over items, police said.

Clay displayed a gun to the workers when he was asked to leave, and he went into his Ford Mustang after being pushed out of the restaurant, police said.

In his car, Clay fired several shots into the business, striking one employee, according to investigators.

The worker’s injuries were considered non-life-threatening and they declined any medical treatment, KMOV reported.

Clay was involved in a high-speed chase with an officer from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department a week later, investigators said. After stopping him, officers found a loaded gun in his car.

Clay, who was captured in surveillance footage from the Church’s incident, was identified as the shooter and was arrested, police said. He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and first-degree assault, court records show.

He was jailed on a 150,000 bond, according to the court records.

Ferguson is a northwest suburb of St. Louis.

This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM with the headline "Man shoots into Church’s Chicken when he’s denied free water cup, Missouri cops say."