Armed Man Threatened To Shoot Employees At Popeye's: Prosecutor

BRIDGEVIEW, IL — A Burbank man is accused of going into a Popeye's restaurant with a gun and threatening to shoot employees. Abdurahman Elshahawy, 20 has been held without bond after appearing in bond court at the Bridgeview Courthouse Wednesday on charges he picked up the night before. Assistant State's Attorney Kyle Gruca said Elshahawy went into the Popeye's at 90th and Harlem in Bridgeview around 8 p.m. on Aug. 20 and pulled up his shirt, showed a handgun and then threatened to shoot the employees who were working at the time. He is a former employee of the restaurant, according to Bridgeview police.

Elshahawy is then accused of leaving the scene in a car he did not have permission to drive, driving off and eventually crashing it on a nearby highway. Authorities then found a 9 mm semi-automatic weapon upon a search of his car, Gruca told Judge John Mahoney in court.

Elshahawy also does not have a FOID card or concealed carry license, Gruca said. He has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of weapon, aggravated assault and criminal trespass to vehicle, a report from Bridgeview police shows.

The public defender representing Elshahawy in court said the defendant is 20 years old, lives with his parents and has no current occupation.

Bond with no conditions was recommended, but Mahoney ordered Elshahawy held in custody without bond.

"If I could do it, I'd give you a double no bond," the judge said.

"You can't be walking around with a 9 millimeter gun threatening to shoot everyone in a restaurant, taking off and then crashing a car."

Elshahawy is due back in court in September.