On Monday, October 7, 2024 a worker at J&J’s Fish and Chicken on Chicago’s Southwest Side shot and killed two men during his shift.
The suspect, 42-year-old Mehdi Medellel, now faces two first-degree murder charges. According to the Chicago (Illinois) Police Department, the deadly incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when an argument erupted between Medellel and the two victims, aged 57 and 56. The reason for the dispute remains unclear.
One of the victims has been identified as David Swick, aged 56. The identity of the other man, aged 57, has not yet been disclosed. A worker at the restaurant, who was not there at the time, mentioned that she knew one of the victims, a homeless man, whom she used to give food to.
Surveillance footage revealed chilling moments leading up to the shooting. One of the victims, visibly surprised, backed away while raising his hands, attempting to defuse the situation. Medellel, however, approached the man and shot him in the head. He then turned to the second victim, who was sitting at a table and had no time to react, before firing a fatal shot at him. “It’s a sad statement for the city,” shared Street Pastor Donovan Price, reflecting on the loss of life due to violence.
Prosecutors described the shooting as a “horrific” “execution-style” murder, stating that neither of the victims was armed.
They also mentioned that just prior to the shooting, Medellel “was observed manipulating a firearm in the restaurant’s back kitchen area by the cook.”
Police arrested Medellel about 30 minutes after the shooting as he was leaving the scene. Officers recovered a handgun from a nearby dumpster, where Medellel reportedly discarded it. Further investigations are underway, including ballistic tests on the weapon. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to confirm the identities of the victims and notify their families.
Medellel was recognized in photographs and videos by the chef who contacted the authorities as well as the proprietor of the restaurant.
Following the shooting, the restaurant was reportedly closed as police secured the area. A woman who visited the fast-food establishment and found it closed expressed her disappointment to the local media, adding that the senseless loss of life saddened her.
Medellel, who has a prior criminal record in Illinois and Florida, appeared in court on October 8, where a judge ordered his detention. He is scheduled to return to court on October 29 for further proceedings.