Ex-NFL Player Helps GA Dad Charged With Leaving Kids In McDonald's

AUGUSTA, GA — A GoFundMe established by former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown has garnered more than $80,000 for a Georgia dad accused of leaving his three children unsupervised at a McDonald's for nearly two hours, according to media reports.

Augusta father Chris Louis, 24, was arrested on charges of deprivation of a minor on March 22, according to Today.com.

Louis originally told Richmond County authorities he left the children alone to attend a job interview; however, WJBF reported authorities found inconsistencies in Louis' story.

Brown, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, started a GoFundMe with a $50,000 goal for Louis. The fundraiser had surpassed its goal by roughly $30,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

"Story caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the means for babysitting, etc. This GoFundMe is set in place to help this man. I have spoken with GoFundMe and they will get the funds to Chris and his family. I haven’t spoken to Chris yet, but I hope to do so soon," Brown wrote in the fundraiser.

In an update, Brown said he had been in contact with the family and claimed Louis was at an interview the day he was arrested and that Louis and the children have been homeless since November.

Louis was accused of leaving his children — ages 10, 6 and 1 — at a Washington Road McDonald's sometime in March, WJBF reported.

The authorities were notified by a customer who was with his family at the fast-food restaurant, Today reported. The customer claimed Louis ordered food for the children around 4:30 p.m. before leaving the McDonald's, returning to the restaurant and leaving a second time, the national media outlet reported.

Louis told authorities he was waiting for a potential interview at a nearby inn while at the McDonald's, WJBF reported.

Additionally, he told them he did not have a car and walked to the McDonald's with his children, Today reported.

Representatives at the inn confirmed Louis completed a job application and informally interviewed the day he was arrested, Richmond County authorities told WJBF.

Video surveillance showed Louis arriving and leaving at the inn at 1:12 p.m. and 1:37 p.m. respectively, the news outlet reported.

Louis was accused of delivering a backpack at an apartment complex, telling his oldest child that he would quickly return to the McDonald's, WJBF reported.

The child told authorities that he often left the three children alone, Today reported. The mother picked up the children from the restaurant, the news outlet reported.

“Based on the video evidence and the timeline provided by all parties involved, it was determined that Mr. Louis was not engaged in a job interview or application process during the time the children were left unattended. Furthermore, by his own admission, he was walking between McDonald’s and The Hendrix Apartments on foot during that period,” the Richmond County Sheriff's Office stated, per WJBF.

Richmond County Jail records did not show an inmate file for Louis on Thursday.