Suspects in attack outside Des Plaines mosque not detained

A Cook County judge did not detain three men charged in connection with an attack last week outside a Des Plaines mosque, but ordered all three to surrender their firearms to authorities.

The men face mob action and other charges related to the alleged assault late Friday during which police said a 20-year-old Lake in the Hills man was punched and kicked.

Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Alyssa Bauer said a verbal argument over $10,000 and a real estate deal “escalated into a violent and dangerous attack” which involved at least 10 other people in addition to the defendants.

Abdulrahim Ghaffar, 24, of Skokie, is charged with mob action and battery. Asir Amin, 21, of Morton Grove, is charged with mob action, unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault. Faisal Khan, 23, of Skokie, is charged with mob action and aggravated assault.

According to Des Plaines police, officers responded at about 11:45 p.m. Aug. 28 to a report of a fight in progress in the 400 block of Potter Road.

The Lake in the Hills man and two witnesses told police they were attacked and the offenders fled in a black BMW. Officers located the vehicle, stopped it and recovered two firearms, Bauer said.

Witnesses told police Khan and Amin pointed firearms at them and recorded the incident on their cellphones, according to Bauer. Both men have valid FOID cards, and Khan has a valid Concealed Carry License. Amin does not, Bauer said.

Cook County Judge Anthony Calabrese ordered both to surrender their firearms to police and prohibited them from contacting the 20-year-old or any other witnesses.

Prosecutors also filed a petition to detain Ghaffar, who they say kicked the man in the head and body. They say police recovered a firearm from Ghaffar's waistband, but do not allege he drew it during the altercation.

Ghaffar has a valid FOID card and a CCL, according to defense attorney John Ferrentino, who represents all three defendants.

“The dispute was going both ways,” he added.

His clients have no criminal background and worship at the mosque, which was not open to worshippers at the time, Ferrentino said.

In denying prosecutors' petition to detain Ghaffar, Calabrese noted that police released all three defendants with citations to appear in court and all three complied.

“I cannot draw the conclusion that the state has met its lofty burden” that Ghaffar “poses a real and present threat,” Calabrese said.

The defendants are scheduled to return to court Sept. 23.

bvitello@dailyherald.com