CHICAGO, IL – In a shocking incident that took place in a Chicago McDonald’s on Sunday, three staff members were injured in a hatchet attack perpetrated by a customer demanding complimentary food. Several hours later, the suspect returned to the scene, leading to his subsequent arrest.
The fast-food restaurant on 7832 S. Western Ave., Southwest Side, became a crime scene at around 8:30 a.m. when an unidentified male customer demanded cost-free food from the cashier. Upon his request being denied, the individual pulled out a hatchet-like object and commenced an assault on the employees, according to local police reports.
The victims, a young man of 18 and two middle-aged women, 45, sustained injuries in the assault. Rapid emergency responses enabled hospital transportation for each of the victims. Two are reported to be in good condition, while one woman is in a serious condition.
Witness Moe Cannon recalled an encounter with the suspect before the incident. He noticed the suspect exiting McDonald’s after the event, visibly armed and seemingly undisturbed.
Several hours post-incident, the suspect revisited the area, leading to multiple police calls from alarmed locals. He was arrested at a location directly opposite the site of the attack.
Currently, the arrested individual is in police custody and is being questioned. The investigation continues under the jurisdiction of Area One detectives.
Although the McDonald’s branch retained drive-thru service availability following the attack, their indoor premises remained shut to the public.