Man With Axe Attacks Pot Shop Security Guard, Gets Fatally Shot

Chicago, IL – A security guard at a marijuana dispensary on the West Side of Chicago fatally shot a disgruntled customer who attacked him with an axe on Labor Day morning.

The incident occurred just after 10 a.m. on Sept. 5 at a Zen Leaf dispensary in the 200-block of South Halsted in Greektown, WMAQ reported.

A man, who sources close to the investigation said was a “disgruntled customer” at the marijuana dispensary, got into a verbal altercation outside the business with the store’s 37-year-old security guard.

Police said the suspect began swinging an axe at the security guard and struck him in the leg, WMAQ reported.

The suspect continued his attack and the security guard shot him.

“A struggle ensued, and the victim fired shots, striking the offender,” Chicago police told WMAQ in a statement.

The suspect was transported to Stroger Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead.

Authorities said the wounded security guard was transported to Northwest Memorial Hospital for treatment in good condition, WMAQ reported.

Chicago police said the investigation into the incident is ongoing and detectives are trying to determine a motive for the suspect’s attack on the security guard, the Chicago Patch reported.

The store released a statement that explained why the shop was closed for the day, WMAQ reported.

“This morning outside Zen Leaf on Halsted Street, an individual attacked a contracted third party security guard with a weapon outside the dispensary. Both individuals were taken to hospitals with serious injuries,” the marijuana shop said in a statement.

The security company said the guard primarily worked at that location, WLS reported.

Neighbors have complained about problems in and changes to their community since the pot shop opened, WLS reported.

“That’s what people in Greektown say, that the neighborhood has changed since the dispensary opened a few years ago,” neighbor Maca Navas said. “There’s more violence and crowds that make noise, and they are aggressive sometimes.”