Springfield restaurant owner charged after pointing gun over $92 unpaid bill
A Springfield restaurant owner faces assault and robbery charges after allegedly striking two customers and pointing a firearm at them following a disputed $92.40 bill.
Springfield restaurant owner arraigned after firearm incident over unpaid tab
A Springfield restaurant owner has been charged with assault and armed robbery after allegedly drawing a firearm on two customers who fled without paying a $92.40 bill, according to court documents cited by westernmassnews.com.
The incident occurred on Friday night at the establishment linked to Kashouh, after a card used by 18-year-old Javonnie Lee and a 17-year-old girl was declined twice. When informed their payment had not gone through, the two customers ran from the restaurant without settling the bill.
The pair headed northeast along Harrison Avenue, turned onto Chestnut Street, and entered the A-Z Convenience Store. Kashouh and another employee followed them on foot and waited outside the store.
Surveillance footage from the convenience store reportedly shows Kashouh lifting his shirt to expose a firearm. He allegedly struck the teenage girl with his elbow and punched Lee in the face. Kashouh then walked westbound on Harrison Avenue while holding the girl's phone, which he had taken from her.
When the two customers followed him to retrieve the phone, Kashouh allegedly pointed the firearm in their direction. Court documents state that several witnesses observed the altercation.
Kashouh was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery with a firearm, and assault and battery. Springfield Police spokesperson Ryan Walsh confirmed that Kashouh holds a License to Carry, and that both the firearm and the licence were seized at the time of his arrest.
At his arraignment on Monday, Kashouh pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for 22 October in Springfield.
Lee and the teenage girl are also set to face criminal complaints for defrauding a restaurant.
A spokesperson for Kashouh issued a statement on his behalf: "Mr. Kashouh was grateful for the opportunity to appear in court today and respond to the allegations against him. He maintains his innocence and that his actions were taken in self-defense."
The statement added that Kashouh "looks forward to the opportunity for the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident to be fully addressed" as the case proceeds through the legal process.
The spokesperson also noted that Kashouh's restaurant, Nadim's, had recently marked more than 25 years serving the Springfield community, and expressed gratitude for the support he had received from clients, guests, and community members since the incident.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)