Minooka MMA Fighter and His Brother Viciously Beat 2 Men Outside Shorewood Burger King: Cops

SHOREWOOD, IL — A Minooka mixed martial arts fighter and a man identified as either his stepbrother or half brother viciously beat two men outside the Shorewood Burger King, police said, leaving one of them hospitalized for nearly a week and fighting for his life.

MMA fighter Michael “Wardog” Reid, 22, and Nicholas Ventsias, 26, both were arrested Friday and booked into the Will County jail. Reid’s bond was set at $1 million and Ventsias’ at $750,000, police said.

Reid and Ventsias both live in Minooka, according to police, who said the men are either stepbrothers or half brothers.

The alleged attack came after closing time Saturday night at Skooter’s Roadhouse, where Reid was working as a bouncer Saturday night and Ventsias was hanging out, police said.

About 3 a.m. Sunday, Reid and Ventsias reportedly got into a parking lot altercation with two other men. Those two men, who are in their 20s, along with a third man, left and headed to the Burger King down Jefferson Street. After they arrived, Reid and Ventsias showed up and attacked two of them, police said.

Both men were viciously beaten, according to police, although only one lost consciousness. He reportedly remains in critical condition and there is some doubt he may survive.

Detectives investigated the attack throughout the week and gathered evidence, including surveillance video, said Shorewood Police Chief Aaron Klima.

Arrest warrants were secured Friday and Reid and Ventsias were taken into custody.

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