CHICAGO — A man has been charged with murder after two men were shot and killed by an employee late Monday night after they got into an argument at a Southwest Side fast-food restaurant.
Mehdi Medellel, a 42-year-old man from the South Side of Chicago, was charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder Tuesday evening, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Police said Medellel was arrested around 11 p.m. Monday in the 1700 block of West 79th Street after he was identified as the man who shot and killed two victims — a 56-year-old man and a 55-year-old man — inside the JJ Fish & Chicken in the 7800 block of South Western Avenue, in the Ashburn neighborhood, around 10:30 p.m.
Medellel allegedly got into an argument before shooting happened.
CPD said at that point, Medellel took out a gun and shot both victims in the head. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, Medellel, who was an employee at JJ Fish & Chicken, fled the restaurant after the shooting and was later arrested.
A woman who did not want to be identified but also works at the JJ Fish & Chicken location told WGN News one of the victims was homeless. She said she had finished her shift Monday before the shooting happened and was shocked when she got a call Tuesday morning explaining what happened after she left.
“I don’t know how this happened, or why he did what he did, or what made him do what he (did),” the woman said of the shooter.
“… If I was in there, he would’ve done it to me, too. I always give people a chance and look at them as good people and stuff, but you have to just watch people sometimes, I guess.”
Detectives were at the restaurant collecting evidence into the early-morning hours Tuesday. Police have not said what may have started the argument, and the names of the two victims have not been released.