Late-Night Line-Cutting Dispute Leads To Arrest Over Rifle

NILES, IL — A late-night dispute over cutting in line early Sunday led to a felony firearm charge for an armed man, police said. Around 4:30 a.m., cops were called to the Taco Burrito House at 9001 N. Milwaukee Ave. for a report of a disturbance involving eight to 10 people. Niles police wound up finding a semi-automatic rifle and arresting a Chicago man.

Nenif M. Oshana, 26, of the 2500 block of West Berwyn Avenue in Chicago, was charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a felony, and four counts of misdemeanor aggravated assault, according to Cmdr. Robert Tornabene.

The first officer on the scene said there was a large crowd of people gathered in the parking lot. Right away, he noticed a man who looked like he was trying to hide a long gun along his side, Tornabene said. The front sight of a rifle was visible swinging back and forth as he walked away across the lot.

The officer drew his firearm and began telling the man to show his hands. Instead of showing his hands, police said, the man walked around the passenger side of his car, put a gun inside and then closed the door.

The man eventually went along with the officer's repeated commands, lying down on the ground until backup arrived, when he was handcuffed and searched. The search turned up a .40 caliber Glock magazine in his pocket, according to police.

Police checked out his vehicle, a 2010 Audi with its trunk left open, Tornabene said. A Kel-Tec Sub 200 semi-automatic rifle was sitting on the vehicle's front seat. A box of .40 caliber ammunition was found in the trunk.

The original confrontation began when Oshana tried to start a fight inside the restaurant due to his belief that four men had cut in front of him in line, police were told.

When they left the restaurant, Oshana was allegedly waiting for the group, a 25-year-old Arlington Heights man, a 31-year-old Wheeling man, a 19-year-old Palatine man and a 33-year-old Palatine man.

Police released Oshana's companions, a 24-year-old Skokie man and a pair of Niles men aged 21 and 26, without charge, according to Tornabene.

If convicted on all charges, Oshana faces a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment. He was released on bond and is due back in court on June 20.