A Massachusetts restaurant owner allegedly assaulted two teenagers accused of leaving without paying, then pulled a gun on a larger group that assembled after he chased them down, authorities said.
Nadim Kashouh, 62, reportedly pursued a 17-year-old girl and 18-year-old Javonnie Lee after they left Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill on Friday evening without paying a $92.40 bill, The Boston Globe reported.
Kashouh allegedly caught up with the pair at a convenience store after following them from the restaurant.
Police said Nadim Kashouh, 62, chased the teens—a 17-year-old girl and Javonnie Lee, 18—after they allegedly ran out of Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Google Maps)
The teenagers told police they made two attempts to pay the bill, but fled after their card was declined both times, according to the newspaper.
Kashouh, who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1990, allegedly took the girl’s phone and demanded payment. The Springfield Police Department said he then elbowed her and punched Lee in the face.
“As a larger group gathered, Kashouh is alleged to have pointed his firearm in the direction of the group. Kashouh stated he did so in self-defense,” police spokesperson Ryan Walsh said, according to WMTV.
Walsh said authorities seized Kashouh’s firearm and license to carry. He faces two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery with a firearm, and assault and battery.
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The two teenagers, meanwhile, are expected to receive criminal complaints alleging that they defrauded a restaurant.
Kashouh appeared in court earlier this week, according to a post on his restaurant’s Facebook page.
“He maintains his innocence and says he acted in self-defense. As this matter moves through the legal process, Mr. Kashouh looks forward to the opportunity to fully address the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident,” the post said.
“Having just celebrated over 25 years serving the Springfield community, Mr. Kashouh is incredibly grateful for the many clients, guests, friends, and community members who have reached out and continued to support him and Nadim’s,” the statement continued. “He sincerely thanks them for their kindness and support during this time.”
Kashouh was born in Monrovia, Liberia, and moved to Lebanon with his family in 1974. As a child, he worked in the family business during the summer, The New York Post reported.
While Kashouh faces the allegations, some people have publicly spoken in his defense.
“I have known Nadim to be respectful, fair, calm, and incredibly hardworking,” Maureen Pinette, who worked for him from 2012 to 2014, wrote on Facebook. “I’ve watched him deal with difficult situations and difficult people, and I have never known him to be someone who simply loses his cool.”
“I see so much of Nadim in both of his children—the love, the loyalty, the work ethic, and the way they show up for the people around them,” she added. “I’ve also watched Nadim give to people and to his community without needing recognition for it. He has done things for people simply because they needed help.”
News Media has contacted the restaurant and the Springfield Police Department for comment.
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