5-Year-Old Wakes Up Wanting Chick-fil-A—So He Walks There, Here’s What Happened Next
A curious 5-year-old in Jacksonville woke up craving Chick-fil-A, slipped out of his house while his family slept, and set off on a solo breakfast adventure that ended safely—thanks to quick-thinking employees, caring officers, and parents who took the scare seriously.
Some mornings bring surprises, but few are as unexpected—and memorable—as the one that unfolded at a Jacksonville Chick-fil-A this summer.
On June 24, Chick-fil-A employees on San Jose Boulevard noticed a barefoot little boy in a red sweater happily enjoying breakfast. The 5-year-old, named William, had wandered in all by himself around 7 a.m. Staff quickly called the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), and Officers Bryan Kelly and Ryan Perri responded.
“As we walked in, we see a little kid sitting at a table eating his breakfast with one of the managers,” Officer Kelly said. “We asked where he came from, and he kept saying he walked to Chick-fil-A”.
William’s innocent question melted hearts everywhere: “Are you going to get me in jail?” he asked officers as they gently led him to their patrol car.
A Family Awakened to Surprising News
After some detective work, William was able to point out his home. The officers discovered the gate was locked, so Officer Perri climbed over the fence to knock on the door. Inside, William’s parents—Phil and Victoria—were sound asleep, unaware of their son’s adventurous stroll.
When officers told them what had happened, disbelief washed over Phil: “Are you kidding me?” he exclaimed.
Victoria later explained that William must have unlocked the front door and walked the familiar route to Chick-fil-A that the family had taken together before. “It’s kind of scary, actually, because we didn’t realize what was going on until after we came out,” she admitted.
Parents Who Took It Seriously
Police confirmed that the family had multiple safety measures in place, and William’s parents were not in any trouble. Still, they didn’t downplay the seriousness of what happened.
Christian Hancock, JSO’s senior media relations manager, told USA TODAY the report indicated the family was asleep when William left.
Phil reflected: “I think it did shake him [William] up some, so I don’t think we really needed to, you know, impress too much that he shouldn’t do it again… I think he understood that it was serious, but we did talk about it.”
A Happy Ending—and a Helpful Reminder
Eric Gillis, the Chick-fil-A owner-operator, praised the quick and caring actions of officers and staff: “This heartwarming outcome truly reminds us of the strong community we are a part of, and we are so glad this story had such a happy ending.”
JSO echoed that the incident should serve as a gentle reminder for all parents: teaching children their home address, parents’ names, and a phone number can make a big difference in an emergency.
And in the end? William’s breakfast adventure turned into something much bigger—a reminder of how communities look out for one another, and how even a small misstep can inspire gratitude, connection, and care.
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