Brand Loyalty

Craft beer fans can be passionate about their beer preference, but even factory beer drinkers have standards it seems.

Clarence Sturdivant, 64, shot his 66-year-old neighbor, Walter Merrick, said Col. John Fortunato, spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. 

The beer showdown occurred Saturday afternoon (March 7) at a complex of single-story apartment buildings in the 1500 block of Esther Street in Harvey. Merrick told investigators that he and Sturdivant were chatting in the parking lot when Sturdivant asked for a beer, a Sheriff's Office incident report said.

Merrick returned with a can of Busch beer -- apparently not Sturdivant's brew of choice. An angry Sturdivant declared his preference for Budweiser, according to the report.

The two men continued to quarrel over beer brands until Merrick said Sturdivant shot him and left, the incident report said.

See "Budweiser or Busch: Argument over beer brands ends with shotgun blast" for more on this beer debate among friends.