(Skokie, IL) — A man who prosecutors say acted in self defense when he fired a warning shot during a Palestinian protest in Skokie will not be charged.
The 39-year-old man, who prosecutors declined to name, was released from police custody. In a statement issued Monday, prosecutors said the man, a Firearm Owner Identification Card and Concealed Carry License holder, had “no criminal history.”
“After reviewing the evidence, which includes surveillance video and witness statements, we have determined the individual … acted in self-defense upon being surrounded by a crowd and attacked by some of those individuals,” according to the statement.
A crowd of approximately 200 pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered about 4 p.m. Sunday outside an event called to show solidarity with Israel at Ateres Ayala, a banquet hall in Skokie, but were kept some distance away from the property by police.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m., a smaller group of protesters moved south across Touhy Avenue after seeing the man exit his sedan and chase a woman who appeared to take an Israeli flag off his car, according to nearby camera footage.
He was surrounded by protesters, according to a chaotic video of the incident provided to the Sun-Times by a witness, then a gunshot can be heard on the video.
People scream and the crowd scatters, and the man can be seen holding the gun as someone screams, “Get him! Get him!”
Lincolnwood police confirmed the man fired a weapon into the air, and he was arrested at the scene.
Hatem Abuddayeh, the national chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, said the state’s attorney’s office was “absolutely wrong” in releasing the man, who he said “endangered hundreds.”
He blamed America’s political leaders, specifically President Joe Biden and some elected officials in Illinois who have voiced support for Israel, for stoking the attacks.
“Our leaders are responsible for the attacks,” Abuddayeh said. “The state’s attorney’s office has a responsibility of keeping people safe … These are the things that put us in danger.”
He said decisions such as the one not to file charges give the Palestinian community reason to worry about its safety.
Since the Israeli-Hamas war started two weeks ago, Muslim activists in Chicago claim anti-Muslim hate is worse than after 9/11.
A representative for the Anti-Defamation League said antisemitic actions have increased sharply in the weeks since war broke out. A Portage Park woman had her Israeli flag replaced with a Palestinian one that read “Palestine will be free, all Jerusalem to the sea,” according to Chicago police. Another Israeli flag was vandalized in downstate Champaign, according to the ADL.
© Copyright 2023 Sun-Times Media. WLS News contributed to this report.
