A shooting at J&J’s Fish and Chicken, located on Chicago’s Southwest Side, resulted in the death of two men on Monday, October 7, 2024. The alleged shooter, Mehdi Medellel, was an employee at the restaurant.
Medellel, age 42, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, as reported by the Chicago (Illinois) Police Department. The fatal incident began around 10:30 p.m. following a verbal altercation between Medellel and the two victims, who were 57 and 56 years of age. The motive for the altercation is still under investigation.
One of the deceased has been identified as David Swick, a 56-year-old man. The other victim, a 57-year-old man whose identity has not been released, was known to a fellow employee as a local homeless man to whom she frequently provided meals.
The events leading up to the shooting were captured on surveillance video. It showed one victim attempting to deescalate the situation by backing away with his hands raised. Unfazed, Medellel moved closer and shot the man in the head. He then turned his attention to the second victim, seated at a table with no time to react, and shot him as well. “It’s a sad statement for the city,” commented Street Pastor Donovan Price, reflecting on the incident.
The prosecution has labeled the incident as a “horrific” “execution-style” murder, emphasizing that neither victim was armed at the time. Further, they revealed that Medellel was seen handling a firearm in the restaurant’s back kitchen area by the cook shortly before the shooting.
Medellel was apprehended by police approximately 30 minutes after the incident as he was leaving the scene. A handgun, reportedly discarded by Medellel, was recovered from a nearby dumpster. Investigations are ongoing, including ballistic tests on the recovered weapon. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office is in the process of confirming the victims’ identities and notifying next of kin.
The chef and the owner of the restaurant were able to identify Medellel from photos and videos, leading to his arrest. Following the incident, the restaurant was closed for a period as police conducted their investigation. A regular customer expressed her shock and sadness at the closure and the violent incident when she found the restaurant closed.
Medellel, a resident of Illinois with a previous criminal record in Florida, appeared in court on October 8, where his detention was ordered. He is set to return to court on October 29 for additional legal proceedings.
