Crestwood Man Among 2 Fatally Shot At Southwest Side Fish Restaurant

CHICAGO — A Crestwood man was one of two people fatally shot Monday at a fast food restaurant in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood. The violent encounter was captured on the restaurant’s surveillance video.

Mehdi Medellel, 42, who was employed as a cashier at JJ Fish and Chicken, 7828 S. Western Ave., is charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder. He was ordered detained by Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman following a pretrial hearing Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Prosecutors did not offer a motive as to what provoked Medellel into shooting the two men, according to court documents. The incident was captured on the restaurant’s surveillance video, which is also said to be circulating on social media.

Around 10 p.m., the restaurant cook said Medellel was handling a gun in the rear kitchen area, prosecutors said. A man was seated at a table in the dining area, but prosecutors said the man did not have any interaction with Medellel.

Another man entered the restaurant at 10:14 p.m. carrying a suitcase and bags. The prosecutor said the man showed Medellel the contents. Medellel is seen walking back to the rear kitchen area, where the cook was working.

JJ Fish & Chicken, 7828 S. Western Ave., Chicago | Lorraine Swanson, Patch

The prosecutor said Medellel is seen on video locking the rear exit before approaching the man with the suitcase. Medellel next appears, raising the gun as the man steps backward with his hands up. Prosecutor said Medellel followed the man and shot him in the head.

The second man who was seated tried to stand up and move away, but Medellel turned and shot him in the head, according to the prosecution. Medellel then reportedly left the restaurant.

The restaurant cook, hearing the gunshots, fled out the back door and called police. Both of the men who were shot died at the scene.

They were identified in a Chicago police report as Paul Williams, 55, of Englewood, and David Swick, 56, of Crestwood.

About 30 minutes after the killings, Chicago police took Medellel into custody on the 1700 block of West 79th Street. Police said Medellel was wearing the same red shirt seen in the surveillance video. Medellel’s black hoodie was also said to have been found nearby.

The cook identified Medellel as the man he saw with a gun moments before he heard the gunshots. Both the cook and restaurant owner also identified Medellel from surveillance videos at JJ Fish, according to court documents.

Chicago police removed shell casings at the scene. Medellel is also said to have made statements to police and led them to a Dumpster where the gun was recovered.

The prosecutor told the judge that Medellel has past arrests for battery, traffic violations and failure to appear.

Medellel is due back in court Oct. 29 at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.