Ray Hanania
Why was teen carrying loaded gun?
By Ray Hanania
Last week, Perri Small, a friend and WVON-AM radio host, Facebooked me, asking what I thought of news reports of an Arab teenager who was beaten by Oak Lawn police?
She noted, sarcastically, I “have no compassion for Black boys.”
I had just heard of the incident, which took place on Wednesday, July 27. Oak Lawn police stopped a vehicle that was missing a front license plate, smelled burnt cannabis in the car and asked each of the three teenagers to exit the vehicle to be patted down.
Two of the passengers consented to be searched, and nothing happened. But when the third teenager, later identified as Hadi Abuatelah, 17, of Palos Hills, exited the vehicle with what looked like a military weapons satchel. He ran and the police gave chase.
Police said it clearly appeared as if there was a weapon in that satchel that was strapped over his shoulder. The police gave chase, caught him and tried to restrain and handcuff him, punching him repeatedly in the arm and face to get his hands away from the weapon. A videotape showing only the beating quickly went viral.
Activists in the Arab and Muslim community immediately protested and called a press conference on Thursday, July 28, bringing in an official of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim American lawyer, the mother, and members of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN). They all insisted the beating was “another example” of “police brutality” and “racist targeting” of a minority, this time an Arab Muslim.
CAIR’s Ahmad Rehab released a statement, “Regardless of the alleged infraction that led to the arrest, the video clearly shows a restrained teenager in submission, not resisting, being brutally beaten by three officers without justification. As a result, he has sustained internal bleeding to the head, a broken nose, and other bodily injuries, all fully avoidable. The issue here is excessive force and police brutality. Something we are seeing again and again and again.”
“Regardless of the alleged infraction?” Are you kidding me? The video is only part of what happened.
What about the weapon? What is a 17-year-old doing in a car with drugs and a 25 mm semi-automatic weapon with three live rounds of ammunition in a bag around his shoulder?
After protesters fiercely denounced the police, Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio acted quickly to respond to the accusations emphasizing police suspected the teenager had a weapon. It makes sense. Why would he run? Nothing happened to the other two teenagers. They weren’t beaten.
Abuatelah was face-down on the ground as police officers punched his arms and head repeatedly to get him to move his hands away from the weapon, which was in the satchel under his chest.
Abuatelah resisted and he and another officer were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Vittorio said Abuatelah continued reaching for the weapon and the satchel.
I spoke to a witness who I know and who was in the drive-thru ordering a shawarma sandwich at Hakuna Matata restaurant at 6035 W. 95th St., near where police caught the armed teenager.
Fearing bullying from activists who attack anyone who questions their claims, I’m not printing her name. She said she was waiting for her order when Abuatelah, holding the weapons bag, ran past her car, followed by the police.
“It looked like a bag that you would hold a weapon and ammunition in. I was frightened,” she told me. “A police officer ran right past me in the car through the drive-thru.”
The suspect kept looking back at the police as he ran with the satchel around his head and shoulder clutched in his hands.
Once the teenager was on the ground, she heard people at the restaurant come out yelling, “What did he do? Why are you beating him?”
Imagine if police had seen teenager Salvador Ramos carrying weapons in a satchel on May 24. Imagine if they tried to grab him and he resisted, and they beat him to get the weapons before he could enter the school.
The police would have prevented a massacre. The activists would be denouncing “police brutality,” defending Ramos and downplaying the weapons.
But police did not catch Ramos. Instead, he entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and murdered 19 little children and two teachers.
The question again is why did Abuatelah have an illegal weapon, and what was he planning to do with it?
Yes. I have no compassion for any teenager — black, white, Hispanic, Asian or Arab — who has a weapon and is using drugs. I blame the parents who show no concern that their child has a dangerous weapon, and I don’t blame the police. They put their lives on the line to protect people from criminals with guns.
Shame on those who defend this kid. He needs help, but clearly he won’t get it.
Check out Ray Hanania’s columns and political podcasts at hanania.com.
13 Comments
Local News
Sister Regina was a wonderful and kind leader
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 As I wrote this column, I received the sad news that Sister Regina Dubickas, SSC passed away today. It is with a heavy heart that I send my deepest condolences to the Sisters of St. Casimir.…
Area Sports Roundup: Brother Rice riding in style; Evergreen Park’s Lily Strand fans 27
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer For some games, Brother Rice arrives in style. On March 22, the Crusaders opened a few eyes when they arrived in Orland Park on a charter bus for a non-conference game against Sandburg. “We’ve had problems with the timing of getting a bus and sometimes 3:45 is the…
Boys Volleyball: Marist beats Lincoln-Way East in battle of national powers
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer High rankings do not mean a whole lot to Kellen O’Keefe. The Marist senior hitter was well aware the RedHawks were recently ranked 14th in the nation in a USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll in mid-March. But minutes after the RedHawks won their own 24-team tournament with…
Police close in on girl’s killers
Spread the loveRelease video of suspects firing weapons From staff reports Police have released surveillance video which they say shows three suspects wanted for questioning in connection with the slaying of a 12-year-old girl on her birthday. The video, a compilation of several cameras mounted at several Chicago Lawn homes, shows three men walking in…
Burglars hit Brighton Park businesses
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A trio of burglaries of businesses in the north end of Brighton Park has prompted police to issue a community alert. All three crimes were against businesses located in the 3500 block of South California on March 13-14. Police did not say what was stolen or how access was gained.…
Police Reports
Spread the loveAmbulance with shooting victim struck by SUV A 39-year-old man was shot in the right arm as he stood outside in the 6300 block of South Troy at 12:35 p.m. Sunday, March 20. The victim was transported by CFD ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition. No…
Southwest Highway drainage work to begin April 4
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a project to improve drainage on Southwest Highway, from 131st Street, in Palos Park, to 135th Street, in Orland Park, will begin, weather permitting, Monday, April 4. The project is expected to be completed in June. The project involves constructing new drainage crossings and a…
Harlem Avenue resurfacing from 62nd to 111th to resume April 4
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that a resurfacing of Harlem Avenue, from 62nd Street, in Chicago and Summit, to 111th Street, in Worth, passing through Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Burbank, Chicago Ridge and Palos Hills, will resume, weather permitting, Monday, April 4. The $5 million project, which consists of resurfacing the…
BBB warns of ‘prison gift’ scams
Spread the loveBy Better Business Bureau staff If you have an incarcerated family member or friend, sending a package is a way to show you care. But do your research beforehand. The Better Business Bureau has gotten several reports of fake inmate care package services targeting people online. How the scam works You find a website…
Tug of war over masks
Spread the loveCTU fights in court to stay covered By Tim Hadac Masks became optional last week at public schools across the city, but the Chicago Teachers Union still vowed a fight to keep everyone covered. In the wake of a decision against their position by a labor board, the CTU issued this statement: “By…
Neighbors
Palos Heights tax preparer convicted of Covid-relief fraud
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Palos Heights tax preparer who operates a business in Bridgeview has been convicted on federal charges for fraudulently assisting customers in obtaining loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on June 10 convicted Hadi Isbaih, 42, on all…
Renovations begin on Shepard High School theater
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Shepard High School, which prides itself in the fine arts, will soon have a beautifully reconstructed theater right on its Palos Heights campus. The Community High School District 218 Board of Education recently unanimously approved funding for the renovation of the Fine Arts Center at the high school at 13049…
Young Spiderman fan wishes students a great summer
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Spiderman-kid bids farewell and wishes a beautiful summer break to students of Glen Oak Elementary in Hickory Hills. Since the summer of 2023, when he discovered the movie “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse,” a story about multiple Spidermen from different dimensions, 6-year-old Ribhi Gaber has been more than just a fan…
Worth finalizes rules for open burning in village
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle After several discussions over the past month, the Village of Worth has new guidelines for open burning by businesses and in residential areas. Mayor Mary Werner mentioned during the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night that a discrepancy in an ordinance regarding open burning had a 10 p.m. deadline. However,…
Orland Township event focuses on mental health
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Orland Township is taking the time to focus on mental health. Residents were invited out to join Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady for an event called, Minds Matter 2024, on May 16 at Orland Township, located at 14807 S. Ravinia Avenue in Orland Park. “This was an excellent opportunity to…
Bridgeview shooting not related to Summer Smash
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Bridgeview Police Chief Ricardo Mancha on Monday wanted to emphasize that a shooting in the village Saturday night had nothing to do with the Summer Smash music festival that took place over the weekend at SeatGeek Stadium. “It was an isolated incident,” he said. “Completely unrelated to the Summer Smash…
Summer jobs available for youths through Lyons Township
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The summer jobs program offered each year by the Township of Lyons is up and running. The program for high school and college students “is designed to give young individuals an opportunity for summer employment,” Trustee Donna McDonald said at the township board’s June 11 meeting. The jobs program started…
Pair busted for Summit phone store robberies
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Two Chicago men have been charged with robbing two phone stores in Summit earlier this year. Jacari Franklin and Austin White are charged with robbing the T-Mobile store at 5640 S. Harlem Ave. on March 28 and the AT&T store at Archer and Harlem avenues on April 18, police said.…
Car enthusiasts crowd annual Father’s Day show in Lyons.
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Held under sunny and warm skies Sunday, the annual Father’s Day Car Show in Lyons was deemed a smashing success by participants and visitors. Not only were car lovers able to admire the four-wheeled beauties, some owners spent quality time with Dad or a spouse. Don Raschka, 80, of Central…
You nailed the obvious that is never considered! I don’t care what race, color or creed… all I know is he was in nearby neighborhood with a loaded gun… he wasn’t just driving around for the afternoon. Kudos to the police that avoided whatever was on this kids mind!
This is what I said since day one! Why does he have an assault weapon? Good job for Oaklawn Poluce Department! I back the blue.!
100% agree but have you bothered to look into the teenager’s background at all? Sorry I know your not a journalist per say just wondering.
Wait to see what oak lawn is going to pay him
Amen
Police have a very hard job that many people would not do to begin with , what’s up with the mother , she should be first concerned about why her son had a gun with him , that mother should be thanking them officers because they could have saved her son from following throu with his plans which could of either sent this kid to prison or the morgue
Thank you for speaking the truth!
If I found out my son was in possession of a semi-automatic weapon…he’d be wishing the police got to him before I beat him within an inch of his life. But, wait, we can’t do that anymore….soooo there in lies the problem. All we have now is Thugs raising more disrespectful thugs! And, it’s NOT a RACE problem, it’s a cultural problem. The neighborhood culture is changing, and NOT for the better. I have no sympathy for any White Black Brown Muslim or otherwise, brat, for acting like an ass in the street. Or, their idiot parents who are probably sitting home smoking weed themselves and not knowing what’s up with their kids!
All facts there are parent responsibility law I say throw the parents in.jail as well ?
Thank you Mr. Ray for restating the crux of the matter, “Why was teen carrying loaded gun?”. As a 30+ year resident of Oak Lawn I am frightened by the outcry of those who are demonizing the Police for doing their job, we don’t want problems with lawlessness, most of us appreciate Police efforts. Now we have to listen to the media construe this incident as being “police violence toward a teenager”, terrible!
God bless the good guys and gals who put their life on the line for us…. great job OLPD, you may have stopped a murder ….
I’m out house we back the ???? blue!!!
How did he get the weapon? Did his mother who cried racist police brutality help him get it? Or know he had it? Or let him keep it? And what of his father? If they broke the law then they also should be prosecuted.
I don’t dispute the suspect was in the wrong for everything he did and parents should be liable, but if beating the suspect while on the ground is standard operating procedure then we have a problem. Why not tase him if he didn’t comply with first command, why beat him first and then tase him after? That would have saved the tax payers of Oak Lawn a soon to be settlement payout.