When Hassan Brewer stared at a woman at a West Garfield Park restaurant over the weekend, her boyfriend accosted him, Cook County prosecutors said Monday.
That confrontation led to a physical altercation between the two men and ended with 31-year-old Brewer allegedly opening fire, seriously wounding his rival.
The victim, 27, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition and underwent surgery over the weekend, authorities said.
His condition has since been upgraded to “good,” prosecutors said.
The man was waiting for his food with his girlfriend at the restaurant at 8:05 p.m. Saturday when he noticed Brewer gazing at his girlfriend, prosecutors said.
After the two exchanged words, Brewer pushed the man, who responded by punching Brewer in the face, prosecutors said.
Brewer eventually left the restaurant. But he returned moments later armed with a loaded gun, prosecutors said. Brewer allegedly went on to fire the weapon from the restaurant’s doorway, shooting the man at close range in the buttocks, back and thighs.
Brewer, who was shot in the arm by a restaurant security guard, then ran out of the business, prosecutors said.
He was arrested less than an hour later in the 1900 block of West Ogden Avenue, police said.
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The fight and subsequent shooting was captured on surveillance video and the victim and his girlfriend identified Brewer as the shooter in a photo array, prosecutors said.
An assistant public defender pointed out that the security guard failed to identify Brewer and argued that Brewer opened fire to defend himself.
But Judge Charles Beach noted, “It’s not as though this was the heat of the moment thing. He left the restaurant and returned.”
Beach then ordered Brewer, a father of four, held without bail for attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.
Brewer has three prior felony convictions, including a 2017 unlawful use of a weapon. Prosecutors said he was currently on parole for that conviction, although Brewer seemed to indicate his parole was over.
Brewer is expected back in court Aug. 16.
