A 19-year-old from Kankakee is facing 11 felony counts in connection with the fatal stabbing of a delivery driver and stabbing of a maintenance worker at a Chick-fil-A in the Chicago suburbs Wednesday morning.
Darryl Lee Jr. was charged Thursday in connection with the crime by the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Around 5 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the Chick-fil-A on the 2700 block of Route 34 in Oswego for a report of a stabbing incident, authorities said.
Oswego police said their officers arrived within four minutes of being dispatched and immediately took a man into custody. Then, officers began rendering medical aid to the man who was stabbed, a contracted maintenance worker, until Oswego Fire Protection District officials arrived and took over, authorities said.
Police later found an unresponsive man, a delivery driver, during a protective sweep of the restaurant. Authorities attempted to render medical aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased man as 52-year-old Tracey J. Land of Bridgeview Thursday evening.
Police said their preliminary investigation indicated that Lee first attacked the Land while he was inside the restaurant around 3:10 a.m., based on surveillance video.
Authorities believe Lee broke into the restaurant through a back door before killing Land.
Investigators determined Land was making a delivery to the restaurant when the offender attacked him with a hammer and a knife.
Land suffered multiple traumatic injuries, according to an autopsy conducted by the Kendall County Coroner’s office. The final cause and manner of death remain pending amid further investigation by the coroner and police.
Authorities believe Lee remained in the restaurant after attacking Land and attempted to clean up the crime scene.
Later, around 4:56 a.m., Lee then exited the Chick-fil-A and attacked a 20-year-old maintenance worker, Sergio Uribe, Jr., by stabbing him from behind with a knife while he was outside the restaurant.
Uribe was with his mother, who is also a contract worker, when he was attacked, and she called the police for help. He was power washing the restaurant when the attack occurred, his mother said.
Police said Uribe “subdued” Lee with the help of his mother.
“We are grateful for the actions of these two individuals, whose efforts to restrain the offender and call police directly led to the offender’s capture,” Oswego police said in a statement.
Uribe sustained serious injuries in the attack and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, authorities said. As of Thursday evening, he was in stable condition.
Around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, a large police presence remained in the area as an investigation continued. Aerial photos and video of the scene from NBC Chicago’s Sky 5 showed multiple police cars parked outside the restaurant, a Command Bus, yellow caution tape and roads blocked off.
“This was an unprovoked attack and resulted in a tragic loss of life. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragic incident,” said Oswego Police Chief Bastin. “We are grateful for the bravery of those who intervened and for the coordinated response from our officers, fire personnel, and assisting agencies.”
Oswego Police said they previously interacted with Lee for a suspicious circumstances call in September after he called police saying he observed people in a vehicle with handguns, however, responding officers were unable to corroborate his report. Police say they had no other contact with him.
According to the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office, Lee is facing the following charges:
- First Degree Murder (Class M Felony)
- Attempted First Degree Murder (Class X Felony)
- Concealment of Homicidal Death (Class 3 Felony)
- Aggravated Battery (Class 3 Felony)
- Armed Robbery (Class X Felony)
- Armed Violence (Class X Felony)
- Burglary (Class 2 Felony)
Lee is in custody in the Kendall County Jail and his next hearing is scheduled for Friday.
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