Left to right: Anothony Harper and Hope Harper (Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office).
A family in South Carolina let their chicken preparation preferences get the better of them as a day dedicated to cooking and supper devolved into an odd and violent brawl, according to law enforcement.
Anothony Harper, 27, stands accused of one count each of assault and battery in the second degree and assault and battery in the third degree over the almost slapstick chicken frying fracas, according to the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. Hope Harper, 25, stands accused of a lone count of third-degree assault and battery.
At stake in the alleged fight was both pride and poultry.
The incident occurred on Sunday, according to an incident report obtained by Atlanta, Georgia-based ABC affiliate WSB-TV.
Deputies were called about a fight at a house on Cody Lane on the night in question. Authorities would learn about several different spurts of violence between two people — an on-and-off again contretemps that began over the flavor, or apparent lack thereof, of chicken being cooked by the man.
The woman allegedly told investigators she asked the man “why he didn’t season the chicken that was cooking so it could crust up.”
After that, she said, he attacked her.
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“I know how to cook and Grammy was going to season the chicken,” Anothony Harper allegedly replied — defending his skills in the kitchen.
At that point, Hope Harper allegedly called the man a “dumb dog.” Then, upon receiving that second slight, he allegedly pushed the woman into the kitchen table and punched her in the face repeatedly.
A third party then made their way to the kitchen and fired a 9 mm handgun into the ceiling to stop the attack, according to a report obtained by Charleston-based NBC affiliate WCBD. But the respite did not last very long.
At some point, Anothony Harper was held back and Hope Harper allegedly seized the opportunity to gain an advantage.
During the lull, the woman began chasing the man around the house with a steak knife, deputies wrote in the incident report.
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The man then ran to his grandmother’s bedroom door in fear for his life, deputies wrote in the report. The Harpers’ grandmother then came out of her bedroom, grabbed a broom, and swatted at the woman until she put the knife away and retreated.
Again, the calm did not last.
Anothony Harper allegedly obtained a can of Raid insecticide and began spraying Hope Harper in her face and neck. The woman then allegedly grabbed the can and sprayed him back.
When deputies arrived, they both insisted on pressing charges against one another. Law enforcement complied with those requests.
Both were arrested that same night and subsequently released on bond on Tuesday.
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