The owner and chef of a popular South Los Angeles restaurant, Carlos Lool, has been taken into ICE custody and is facing deportation. A video of his arrest has gone viral, showing masked agents taking him into custody. Lool's business partner and girlfriend, Jenna Lawrence, described the scene as 'heartbreaking' and 'humiliating.'
Lool, who is known for his food and years of mentoring young chefs in South Los Angeles, has a criminal conviction from Connecticut dating back about 30 years. He has served time for the crime. The investigation began after a former employee reported the restaurant to authorities, claiming there was a gun inside the business, which is a violation of Lool's parole.
Lawrence said that the gun was needed for protection, as the restaurant has been robbed and vandalized in the past. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Lool with legal expenses. The community is rallying around him, with many people sharing their support and kindness on social media.
La Granja Rotisserie, one of Lool's businesses, wrote on Facebook, 'Many people know Carlos as the chef behind La Granja Rotisserie and Fuego Rotisserie, but to so many of us he is much more than that — a father, mentor, leader, and someone who has spent decades rebuilding his life and helping others through food, hard work, and community.'
