Four men acquitted in beating of restaurant owner in mount Greenwood.

Four men—Andrew FedEx, Harry Kenny, Frank Paris, and John Powers IV—were acquitted of aggravated battery charges related to a violent altercation outside Barraco’s Ristorante in Mount Greenwood, Chicago, on June 23, 2024. A Cook County judge concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the defendants were the aggressors in the incident that left 61year-old restaurant owner Nick Barraco with a fractured skull and brain bleed.(ABC7 Chicago, ABC7 Chicago)

The altercation began after the men were allegedly asked to leave the restaurant for underage drinking and unruly behavior. Prosecutors claimed the situation escalated outside, with Paris striking Barraco, causing serious head injuries. However, defense attorneys presented video evidence suggesting that Barraco’s staff initiated the confrontation, leading the judge to find insufficient evidence to convict the defendants. (ABC7 Chicago, Republic News, ABC7 Chicago)

The incident sparked community concern, with a prayer vigil held for Barraco, who was hospitalized for several days. Despite the acquittal, Alderman Matt O’Shea emphasized that the defendants’ actions were the primary cause of Barraco.