23-year-old Gregory Renfro III Speaks Out About Being Savagely Beaten By 6 Individuals At Big Sharks Fish & Chicken Who Included Racial Slurs In The Attack

Renfro III is now recovering from a brutal beating by 6 individuals at Big Sharks Fish & Chicken fast food restaurant at N. 34 Street and W. North Ave., the restaurant is operated by Maher T. Ayad.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 30, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Gregory Dale Renfo III, 23, confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he was not under the influence of any drugs, substance or alcohol when he committed indoor property damage at Big Sharks Fish & Chicken fast food restaurant located in the 3400 block of W. North Ave. on November 21, 2022. That night, Renfro III says that he was actually suffering from being tired from working various shifts as a manager and was hungry. He just wanted to get some food to eat.

Renfro III went to Big Sharks Fish & Chicken for some food with a female co-worker, and while ordering the food, the male cashier who was taking the order began to flirt with Renfro III's co-worker and was ignoring him as he attempted to order. Renfro III apparently complained about the poor service he was getting to the cashier and the male cashier told him "to get your Black ass out," that's when Renfro III says he just reacted and began to trash or to engage in property damage, which several videos posted on social media by Tre Bono and OT Taee showed the indoor incident at Big Sharks Fish & Chicken. The videos were later taken down, but HNNUSA was able to get copies. The longer video (23 minute) version by Tre Bono shows Renfro III throwing soda, a chair including other actions leading to property damage. It also shows at least 6 individuals who walked in including some employees from the restaurant attacking Renfro III with weapons (sticks). The individuals punched, kicked and struck Renfro III multiple times until he managed to run out of the restaurant as the individuals followed him while continuing to repeatedly striking him.

OT Taee's short social media video shows a close up of the multiple individuals striking and assaulting Renfro III as he exited the restaurant. They caught up with Renfro III at a nearby field and began to kick, punch, strike him with the long sticks and stump on Renfro III's head, neck and back multiple times to the point that he temporarily lost consciousness a couple of times, according to Renfro III.

It took more than 15 minutes for police to arrive at the scene. Police took Renfro III into custody. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then was taken to the Milwaukee County jail for booking. The nurse at the Milwaukee County jail refused to admit Renfro III at the jail and he was returned to the hospital for a complete medical examination including a head injury scanning.

Renfro III was later booked at the Milwaukee County jail and spent four days and nights in jail. According to the criminal complaint, Renfro III was charged on November 23, with one felony count for criminal damage to property (over $2,500), court records indicate. Renfro III was released on a $2,500 signature bond.

According to court records, Renfro III has no prior criminal record or convictions.

Milwaukee police and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office charged Renfro III with a felony for property damage, but failed to criminally charge the 6 individuals who attacked Renfro III with weapons committing felony assault and battery with intent to cause injury for savagely and brutally beating up Renfro III to the point of unconsciousness. The criminal complaint shows that Renfro III is prohibited from contacting at least 5 individuals who attacked him that were just identified by initials in the complaint against Renfro III.

Renfro III who is gradually recovering from the brutal beating by at least 6 individuals at Big Sharks Fish & Chicken released photos showing his healing wounds in his arm, neck and back.

Darryl King Rick Farmer II from the Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee released the following statement, "THE BRUTAL ASSAULT THAT TRANSPIRED AT BIG SHARKS CHICKEN AND FISH IN MILWAUKEE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND INTOLERABLE!! THERE WAS A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN A CUSTOMER AND EMPLOYEE!! RACIAL INDIGNATIONS WERE SAID TO THE CUSTOMER WHO BECAME OFFENDED AND OUTRAGED!! WORDS WERE EXCHANGED AND PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED!! THE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS BEHIND SAFETY GLASS TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO CALL THE POLICE AND FRIENDS ALONG WITH FAMILY MEMBERS!! A GROUP OF THUGS ENTERED THE RESTAURANT AND THEN BRUTALLY AND VICIOUSLY ASSAULTED THE VICTIM WITH STICKS AND CLUBS!! CHASING HIM OUT AND CONTINUED THE ASSAULT IN A NEARBY FIELD!! THIS CAUSED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE VICTIM!! THIS IS INTOLERABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE!! WE ARE DEMANDING THAT ASSAULT AND BATTERY FELONY CHARGES AGAINST THE THUGS BE BROUGHT!! WE ARE ALSO DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE CLOSURE OF THIS BUSINESS DUE THEIR  BRUTAL ASSAULT!! THE MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSON, THE D.A. JOHN CHISHOLM AND THE ALDERMAN RUSSELL STAMPER MUST BECOME INVOLVED TO HELP JUSTICE BE SERVED! WE ARE ASKING EVERY COMMUNITY INDIVIDUAL TO STOP SPENDING MONEY THERE DUE TO THIS!! JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED AND BIG SHARKS CHICKEN AND FISH PERMANENTLY SHUT DOWN!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!"

Update:

HNNUSA has learned that Ayad Maher who operates the Big Sharks Fish & Chicken fast food restaurant at the 3400 block of W. North Avenue is planning to open a second Big Sharks Fish & Chicken fast food restaurant at 8333 W. Appleton Ave. located at the corner of W. Appleton and W. Hampton Avenues at the beginning of 2023.

The following Facebook posts in the Big Sharks Mke FB page responding to a backlash of posts about the incident stated, "...we did call police the guy was out of control he was there for more that 30 min he intended to hurt employees if he mentally ill shouldn’t be on the street destroying peoples property His girlfriend was with him and said that he was on mushrooms.and we did refund his money back before all that happened...What happed is wrong and unacceptable employees where in fear and danger and we all humans and we all make mistakes we have to come together fix problems instead for making it worse...he was making death treats we are sorry it went the way it did may justice be served to all communities and god bless everyone involved."

It seems that the individual (page administrator) posting comments on the Big Sharks Mke page agrees that everyone should get justice including Renfro III, which those who brutally attacked him with weapons (sticks) should also be be criminally charged as was Renfro III. Renfro III's criminal complaint also includes the initials (MTA) for Maher T. Ayad, who Renfro III is prohibited from contacting.