Two men were shot by a fast-food worker during an argument at a Chicago restaurant, police said

Two men were shot by a fast-food worker after an argument at a Chicago restaurant, authorities said.

Just before 10:30 p.m. ET Monday night, an altercation broke out at a JJ Fish and Chicken in Ashburn, the Chicago Police Department said.

A male employee in the restaurant then allegedly opened fire with a pistol and fatally shot two men, aged 55 and 56, in the head.

The suspect fled before police arrived.

Both victims – who have yet to be identified – were pronounced dead at the scene.

The reason for the altercation and the shooter’s motives remain unclear and no arrests have been made.

According to local news station WGN9, detectives were at the restaurant early Tuesday morning collecting evidence.

“It’s a sad statement for the city, a sad statement for the community, a sad statement for all of us in some ways, two people losing their lives to gun violence at the same time,” street pastor Donovan Price told CBS News Chicago.

The Independent has contacted the CPD and JJ Fish and Chicken for more information.

The shooting comes at a time when homicides are slowly declining in Chicago, with criminal charges down eight percent so far this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to the latest CPD data.

The fatal shooting came just days after one of two men convicted in the shooting death of a boy at another JJ Fish and Chicken in Milwaukee was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision.

Javontae Jones, 18, was sentenced Oct. 2 after pleading guilty in August to first-degree manslaughter for the Jan. 1, 2023, shooting death of a 17-year-old at a convenience store 100 miles north of Tuesday’s attack.

Jones’ cousin, Jeffrey Coleman, is scheduled to be sentenced later this month after also pleading guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

The two men entered the restaurant and opened fire on the victim – who remains anonymous – as he entered the restaurant, according to a criminal complaint. The victim returned fire, resulting in “numerous gunshots,” authorities said.