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Knife-Wielding Robber Injures Two Workers at Avondale Restaurant, Police Say
A man smashed the glass door of Brothers Restaurant on West Belmont Avenue before dawn Monday, demanded cash, and fought two employees, leaving both hurt. No arrests have been made as Area 5 detectives investigate.
Two people were injured early Monday when a knife-wielding man broke into an Avondale restaurant, fought with employees, and fled with cash, Chicago police said.
The robbery happened around 4:30 a.m. at Brothers Restaurant in the 3000 block of West Belmont Avenue, according to police. The attacker shattered the glass front door to get inside, then pulled a knife and demanded money.
A struggle broke out with two people in the restaurant. Police said the man sprayed a chemical irritant â described as pepper spray or mace â before grabbing cash and running off.
One victim, a 37-year-old man, was taken to Swedish Hospital with minor injuries. Relatives said he was pepper-sprayed and cut on the arm. The second victim declined medical treatment, but family members said he was pepper-sprayed, struck with a hammer, and knocked unconscious when he fell and hit his head on a booth.
No one was in custody as of Monday morning. Area 5 detectives are handling the investigation.
The attack rattled a stretch of Belmont Avenue that residents know for its dense cluster of family-run restaurants and late-night spots. Small-business owners in Avondale have pressed for more visible policing and better lighting along commercial corridors, and Monday's robbery is likely to sharpen those calls.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Area 5 detectives or submit an anonymous tip through CPD's tip channels.