Testimony Hinged Upon Surveillance Video Of Altercation In June 2024 Barraco's Bar Brawl

CHICAGO — Four suburban men accused of violently attacking restaurant employees in June 2024 were acquitted Wednesday of felony charges in a bench trial before a Cook County judge. The fight started when the men, all 20 at the time, were asked to leave the Mt. Greenwood restaurant, reportedly because they were all underage.

Andrew Fedyk, of LaGrange, Harry Kenny, of Glen Ellyn, Frank Paris, of River Forest, and John Powers IV, of Oak Park, were found not guilty of aggravated battery/public place, aggravated battery/great bodily harm, and aggravated battery of a person over 60.

Fedyk faced an additional misdemeanor charge of using a false ID, and Paris an additional felony charge of robbery, for allegedly stealing an off-duty Chicago police officer’s hat. Powers was also charged with aggravated battery/strangle.

In the early morning hours of June 23, 2024, the 20-year-olds were dining at Barraco’s Ristorante in the 3000 block of West 111th Street. When there were cut off at the bar because they were all underage, they became verbally abusive to staff, according to a Chicago police report.

Three Barraco’s employees were injured, along with the 61-year-old restaurant owner, who was hospitalized.

As the four were being escorted out, they allegedly began taunting and attacking three restaurant employees. The four men fled and were apprehended at various locations in the neighborhood, Chicago police said.

Testimony hinged upon a few minutes of security video of the altercation outside the restaurant, the Chicago Tribune reported. The video captured the four underage men battling the restaurant workers.

Attorneys for the four men said three Barraco's bouncers were the aggressors.

“You can’t see how Mr. Barraco was punched,” Cook County Judge Ursala Walowski said. “I see punches and swings and shoves going on. I was not able to see one person that was not being physical in some way.”

While Paris was accused of throwing a punch at Nicholas Barraco, then the owner and manager of the bar, the judge said it was clear who the defendant was aiming at, according to the Tribune’s account

“I’m not here to decide whether he should have done that,” Judge Walowski said. “I’m here to decide whether to hold them criminally responsible.”

The judge delivered the not-guilty verdict before a packed courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, that included Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) and several members of Fraternal Order of Police.