5-Year-Old Boy Sneaks Out for Chick-fil-A While Family Sleeps, Asks Police 1 Question When Found

Before dawn had fully arrived, William, a 5-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, quietly got out of bed, determined to let his family sleep a little longer. Feeling hungry, he devised a plan that made perfect sense in his mind: he would fetch breakfast on his own.

The preschooler slipped out of the house barefoot, passed through a gate, and walked down the block to the nearby Chick-fil-A he was familiar with from weekend visits. Body camera footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office shows William in his pajamas, comfortably seated at a table, enjoying a drink and a box of chicken minis that the restaurant manager had kindly given him for free.

Earlier this summer, Officers Ryan Perri and Bryan Kelly of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office District 3 received an unusual call: a 5-year-old had arrived at Chick-fil-A alone. The officers found William happily eating his breakfast.

When the officers tried to take William home, he confidently assured them he knew where he lived. Right across the street, right over there, he said, pointing to a nearby wall.

After finishing his meal, William followed the officers outside and paused as the police cruiser came into view. Taking in the scene, he asked the memorable question, Am I going to jail? according to Officer Kelly.

Once secured in the cruiser, the officers began looking for a green house with a white fence, as William had described. They soon realized most houses had white fences but none were green, so they asked William to point out his home directly. That worked, and they located him successfully.

Williams father, Phil, still in pajamas, was surprised to find two officers at the door. When asked if he had a son named Liam, Phil corrected them, saying his son William was asleep. Only then did he realize his young son had snuck out. Body camera footage also shows Williams mother, Victoria, stepping onto the driveway in a bathrobe, both parents stunned by how quietly he had left the house.

The sheriffs office confirmed that Williams parents were not at fault and had taken safety precautions. Phil noted that William had been unusually quiet, signaling he understood the seriousness of his actions. He promised it would not happen again.

Phil also praised the officers for their professionalism and kindness. Since the incident in September, the family has become more vigilant about their home alarm. As for whether William now knows his address and phone number, Phil laughs and admits, Were still working on it ... but yes.

Author: Noah Whitman