CHICAGO – Prosecutors have charged an employee with the murders of two men at a South Side fast-food restaurant, according to Chicago police. Surveillance video provided to CWBChicago shows that neither victim threatened the shooter at the time they were killed.
Mehdi Medellel, 42, will appear Wednesday at 26th and California for a hearing on two counts of first-degree murder.
On Monday evening, CPD said a restaurant employee shot and killed two men during an argument at the restaurant in the 7800 block of South Western. Both men, ages 55 and 56, were pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds to the head, according to CPD.
In a video provided to CWBChicago, both victims are seen in the dining room of JJ Fish & Chicken, 7828 South Western Avenue, around 10:28 p.m.
We don’t know what led up to the shooting, but this is what the video shows:
One victim appears to be searching a suitcase that is open on the floor. He stands up as a man enters the screen with a gun extended. The man raises his arms defensively to chest level as he turns away from the shooter. The killer then fires at least one shot, causing the victim to fall to the ground.
While all that is happening, the second victim is seen sitting at a dinner table with his back to the suitcase and the shooter. He appears to remain motionless until the gunman shoots the first man. Upon seeing the shooting, the second victim pushes his chair sideways with his feet as the gunman shoots him from just a few feet away.
As the second victim hits the ground, the shooter turns and walks away from the camera toward the area he came from moments earlier.
CWBChicago is not posting the video due to its graphic content. It is available here.
We will publish an updated story after prosecutors explain their charges in court.
Tim Hecke is the managing partner of CWBChicago. He started his career at KMOX, the legendary news radio station in St. Louis. From there he went on to work at stations in Minneapolis, Chicago and New York City. Tim went on to build syndicated radio news and content services serving each of America’s 100 largest radio markets. He became managing partner of CWBChicago in 2019. His email address is tim@cwbchicago.com
