Good Samaritan shot dead in Florida after paying for people's meals at Waffle House

Craig Brewer became involved in an altercation with a woman

A 25-year-old man has been charged with first degree murder (Getty)

A so-called Good Samaritan has been shot and killed while paying for people’s meals at a Florida restaurant.

Police said Craig Brewer, 41, was killed after getting into an argument at a Waffle House restaurant in Gainesville, located about four miles from the campus of the University of Florida.

Police said Mr Brewer was paying for some of the customers’ meals and “passing out” $20 bills to others when the shooting happened, the Associated Press said.

“This is an individual that has a family and how this went from something that could have been good to something so tragic so fast, we simply have to find that out,” said Lt Brett Rhodenizer, a spokesman for the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

“It really does make you wonder. How did it go so bad so fast?”

The AP said Mr Brewer became involved in an altercation with a woman because he did not pay for her meal.

Shortly afterwards, a man who was allegedly with the woman, left the restaurant, returned with a gun and shot Mr Brewer.

Police said that 25-year-old Ezekiel Hicks was detained and charged with first degree murder. It is not known whether Mr Hicks has entered a plea or has been assigned a lawyer, following the incident on Sunday morning.