'Stop using your wheelchair as a crutch': Marine who lost legs in Afghanistan forced out of restaurant with his family after cruel taunts from rival football fans



A U.S. Marine who lost both his legs in Afghanistan was forced to leave a Charlotte restaurant with his family after local football fans hurled vile abuse at them for wearing Dallas Cowboys jerseys.

Marine Garrett Carnes, of Mooresville, North Carolina attended Sunday’s Carolina Panthers’ game against the Cowboys with his wife Courtney, their parents, and friends Brett and Nicole Coburn.



After the game, which the Cowboys won 19-14, the group stopped at the Moosehead Grill for dinner. Several members of the party, including Garrett Carnes, were proudly wearing their Dallas Cowboys jerseys.

Marine Garrett Carnes and his wife Courtney were taunted by football fans at a Charlotte restaurant on Sunday

War hero: Garrett Carnes lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan

The Moosehead Grill, Charlotte: Scene of the altercation between Marine Garrett Carnes, his family and some rival football fans

A group of disgruntled Panthers fans spotted their jerseys and started to taunt Carnes and his group even before they entered the restaurant.



'Courtney was the first one out of the vehicle, and while she was getting Garrett’s wheelchair, one guy immediately started yelling at her,' Brett Coburn told The Charlotte Observer.

Once in the restaurant, the Panthers fans continued to mock Carnes and his group. One person told Garrett Carnes: 'Don’t use your wheelchair as a crutch.'

Carnes, who is still undergoing treatment for his wounds at a Washington-area hospital, told them he was a veteran who had lost his legs in Afghanistan.



The situation quickly deteriorated and according to witnesses the two parties almost came to blows after one of the Panthers fans approached Carnes in a threatening manner.

Other patrons stepped in to defuse the situation, but s taff asked Garrett Carnes and his party to leave. The police were called by Courtney Carnes, although no charges were filed.

Carnes’ mother, Rhonda, has since addressed a note to restaurant patrons on Facebook. She wrote: 'Why didn’t any of you stand up for my son and daughter? And to think my son almost died for every single person in that bar, by defending all your freedom.'

Garrett Carnes, of Mooresville, North Carolina pictured with family members including mom Rhonda, far left, and wife Courtney, far right

Garrett Carnes continues to undergo treatment for his wounds at a Washington-area hospital