A recent altercation sent Nick Barraco, the owner of Barraco's Pizza in Mount Greenwood, to the hospital, but the four suburban men accused of the attack presented evidence in court on Tuesday, claiming it proves the incident was not their fault.
The men appeared for an unusually long detention hearing at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, which played out like a mini-trial and lasted about two hours. Ultimately, all four defendants were released from custody, but they are due back in court next week. The judge's decision to release the young men was based largely on conflicting versions of what happened outside Barraco's Pizza, located at 3047 W. 111th St., this past weekend.
What is known is that the four young men were intoxicated and were asked to leave the restaurant in Mount Greenwood early Sunday morning. A confrontation ensued outside the establishment, involving staff members and the owner, Nick Barraco. One of the young men allegedly punched Barraco in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head. The Cook County State's Attorney's office reported that Barraco sustained a skull fracture and a brain bleed and remained hospitalized as of Tuesday.
Chicago Police arrested the four men—Andrew Fedyk of La Grange Park, Harry Kenny of Glen Ellyn, Frank Paris of River Forest, and John Powers IV of Oak Park, all 20 years old—near Barraco's restaurant. Prosecutors claim the men acted together and are all responsible for Barraco's injuries.
However, defense attorneys presented a different narrative. They argued that the restaurant's bouncers, including an off-duty police officer, were the aggressors in the altercation.n All four men face charges of aggravated battery in a public place, causing great bodily harm, and to a victim 60 years or older. Additionally, Fedyk is charged with using a fake ID, Paris with robbery for unspecified reasons, and Powers with aggravated battery involving strangulation or choking.
As the case progresses, the court will need to sift through the conflicting accounts to determine the facts. The community remains concerned for Nick Barraco's recovery and the resolution of the incident that has brought significant attention to this well-known local establishment.
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