Chicago Fatburger Owner Calls for Action After Teens Storm Restaurant, Employee Assaulted

The owner of a Fatburger on Chicago’s South Side has publicly appealed for help after two incidents in which groups of teenagers entered the restaurant, damaged property and attacked a teenage employee, security footage reviewed by media outlets shows.

Jackie Jackson, who owns the Fatburger in the Chatham neighborhood, said the December incidents left her business damaged and one employee, 18-year-old Aaron Burns, shaken. Jackson has criticized local police for what she described as a lack of follow-up after the events.

Jackson told reporters she watched one of the attacks on camera and could not intervene because of a shoulder injury. Video from December, first reported by ABC 7 and detailed in other outlets, shows a group of teens — some wearing masks — entering the restaurant’s kitchen and confronting Burns. The footage shows a person in a tan hoodie initiating blows, and other youths joining the scuffle as employees evacuated the room.

A separate video from several weeks later shows teenagers jumping the front counter and entering the kitchen area. In one clip, a man who appears to be a customer draws a handgun and yells at the group, prompting them to leave; Jackson later thanked that man in a social media post. No arrests have been made in connection with the incidents, and Chicago police say the events remain under investigation.

Burns told ABC 7 he believes the assault stemmed from a fight at his high school in which he was not involved, and that the attackers targeted him after mistakenly identifying him as a participant. He said he had no prior confrontation with the group. Jackson said one of the youths reportedly dropped an identification card at the scene and that the card had been provided to police, but she said she was not aware of any follow-up by investigators.

The attacks prompted Jackson to increase security at the restaurant, including installing heavy security doors, an iron fence and a higher-end surveillance system. Jackson has publicly decried the impact on her staff and business, saying the episodes frightened customers and disrupted operations.

Because of safety concerns, Burns began taking rideshare trips to and from shifts. Community organizer Early Walker presented Burns with a $4,000 check, funded by local business E&R Towing, at a press conference to help cover his transportation costs. Walker said the donation was intended to support a young employee who continued to work despite the attacks.

Chicago police confirmed they are investigating the string of incidents but provided no further details on leads or possible charges. Jackson said she remains frustrated by what she described as a lack of accountability and urged community members and city officials to press for resolution.

The episodes in Chatham reflect broader concerns among some Chicago business owners about security and youth violence in public places, according to statements from proprietors and local advocates. Jackson said she wants the city to do more to protect small businesses and their employees and to ensure any individuals responsible for the attacks are identified and held to account.