A suburban man who was grazed by a Chicago police officer’s bullet while allegedly brandishing a knife in the middle of Devon Avenue over the weekend was charged with six felonies Wednesday afternoon.
Two restaurant patrons initially saw 31-year-old Zach Alkoury pacing outside an eatery near the 2600 block of West Devon on Sunday evening, according to prosecutors. As they left after dinner, Alkoury lunged at one of them with both of his fists in the air, Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Deboni said.
One of the witnesses went across the street to call 911 while Alkoury began running in circles around the other one, Deboni continued. When police arrived, the second witness ran across the street and told police that Alkoury had a knife.
Alkoury ran in circles around the intersection with a knife in his hand as pedestrians passed and cars stopped in traffic, Deboni said. Officers ordered Alkoury to drop the knife and tried to stun him with pepper spray, but those efforts failed, according to Deboni.
During the incident, which was recorded by multiple cameras, Alkoury allegedly ran toward police more than one time with the knife in his hand. Deboni said Alkoury eventually ran directly at an officer with the knife exposed and that officer responded by firing a shot.
The bullet ripped through Alkoury’s tunic and caused a “minor injury” to his left thigh, Deboni said. Shortly after the shot was fired, another officer deployed a Taser that sent Alkoury to the ground. Cops took him into custody.
Prosecutors charged Alkoury with six counts of aggravated assault of a police officer. Deboni said Alkoury has two pending cases in the suburbs — one for aggravated battery to a police officer and one for criminal damage to property.
Alkoury remained hospitalized Wednesday for a psychiatric evaluation, according to a police officer who spoke at Wednesday’s bond hearing.
Judge Mary Marubio set Alkoury’s bail at $100,000. She also ordered him held in lieu of $105,000 for violating the terms of bond in the suburban cases. He’ll need to post $20,500 to get out of jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.