VIRAL VIDEO: Burger joint staff fight wild attacker with trash can, frying basket
In a dramatic display of quick thinking captured on viral video, employees at a Whataburger restaurant in Paris, Texas, fended off an alleged attacker using everyday kitchen items.
The incident unfolded when 41-year-old Anthony William Newhuis, dressed entirely in black and reportedly intoxicated, entered the North Main Street location and began assaulting a worker behind the counter. Customer Billy Jones, who was eating inside, recorded the chaos as one employee grabbed a wire fry basket and struck Newhuis on the head, knocking him to the ground. The manager then repeatedly swung a large trash can at the suspect while staff shouted for someone to hit the panic button and called 911. The attacker eventually fled out the back, only to be found bleeding from the head in the parking lot.
Newhuis, from Spring, Texas, was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury and public intoxication. While in custody at the Lamar County Jail, he allegedly flooded his cell, leading to an additional misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief under $750. No employees were reported injured in the confrontation, which has since exploded online with millions of views and humorous commentary dubbing it a “What-a-Whoopin’.”
Whataburger, the iconic Texas-based fast-food chain founded in 1950 in Corpus Christi and famous for its 24-hour service and signature burgers across more than 1,000 mostly Southern locations, issued a statement emphasizing that “guest and employee security are a top priority” and confirming full cooperation with authorities.
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The video’s rapid spread highlights growing concerns over workplace violence in the fast-food industry, where late-night shifts and easy public access have led to similar altercations in recent years—including a bloody 2025 brawl at another Texas Whataburger sparked by an order mix-up.
In a state with strong self-defense laws, including Stand Your Ground provisions that can apply to business owners and employees protecting themselves or others, the workers’ improvised defense has drawn widespread praise online as a real-life example of “Don’t Mess with Texas.”
This latest episode underscores the unpredictable risks faced by fast-food workers nationwide, where staffing shortages and overnight operations can leave teams vulnerable. While Whataburger has not commented further on security enhancements, the incident serves as a reminder that in high-pressure service environments, ordinary items like fry baskets and trash cans can become unlikely tools of self-defense when seconds count.