Cook: Sushi Ya Stabbing Was Work Place Accident

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department investigation of the Jan. 7 stabbing inside the Sushi Ya kitchen resulted in charges against cook Branden Bruzzo and Sushi Ya's co-owner, Ziong Xhang, 53, but that's not how Bruzzo views the incident.

The Joliet cook has hired the Joliet law firm of McNamara Phelan McSteen to file his application for benefits with the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission. Bruzzo does not classify the injury to his right hand as happening during a crime of violence. Rather, he views it as a work place injury inside Sushi Ya, 2721 W. Jefferson St.

The filing, prepared by lawyer Brian Cichon, indicates Bruzzo was asked the following questions: "What was the nature of the injury?" and "How did the accident occur?"

The Sushi Ya cook answered both questions in writing: "Injured in the course of employment."

The Joliet man also checked the box asking whether "the employer was notified of the accident orally."On the night of Jan. 7, Bruzzo was treated at the Amita Saint Joseph Medical Center for a hand laceration, Joliet Police reports show.

According to the workers compensation filing, Bruzzo, 32, of Joliet, stated that his average wages are about $880 per week and he is not currently receiving any temporary disability benefits.

Meanwhile, Joliet Patch obtained access to the Joliet Police reports as a result of Freedom of Information Act request. The documents show that Joliet Police Officer Sean Early investigated the stabbing at Sushi Ya and was assisted by officers Jennifer Gruber and Emily D'Amico.

Early arrived at the restaurant at 6:19 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. "I was able to watch security video, no sound, from the kitchen and observed Bruzzo and Zheng both in the kitchen cooking. While cooking a verbal altercation had broke out between the two which led to Zheng putting his hand on Bruzzo's shoulder and Bruzzo hitting Zheng in the neck," Joliet police reports show.

"The video then shows Zheng had grabbed the meat cleaver and swung once hitting Bruzzo in his hand. Zheng then followed Bruzzo around the counter and swung again at Bruzzo, but missing Bruzzo."

According to further police reports, "Bruzzo had thrown multiple strikes toward Zheng while Zheng had the meat cleaver. The video then shows Zheng chasing Bruzzo out of the kitchen through the back door with another unknown object."

Zheng faces two felony counts of aggravated battery, for causing severe lacerations to his employee, police reports state. Zheng spent about 24 hours in the Will County Jail prior to his wife posting 10 percent of his $10,000 bail to regain his freedom.

Bruzzo did not go to jail. He was released on a $1,500 I-bond on a misdemeanor battery charge. He was ordered to appear at the Will County Courthouse on Feb. 18 for a pretrial hearing in Courtroom 305.

Officer D'Amico has logged the meat cleaver knife into the police evidence locker, reports show.

After closing for an entire week because of the kitchen stabbing, Sushi Ya Asian Cuisine reopened Tuesday, Jan. 14. It's a popular Joliet restaurant and several members of the city's legal community often eat there.

RELATED: Sushi Ya Owner Hires Tomczak Law Group, Key Motion Filed