Oak Brook physician stable after stabbing at Chicago hotel

An Oak Brook physician was expected to make a full recovery after a nearly fatal stabbing in a downtown Chicago hotel on Saturday night.

Dr. Mir Shah, 67, was attacked about 8 p.m. in the bathroom of the Westin Hotel on the 900 block of North Michigan Avenue. He reportedly was at the hotel eating after attending the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which ended about an hour earlier.

Shah, a radiation oncologist, was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious but stable condition, but his family said late Sunday that he was doing much better

“His wounds were very serious — coming within less than an inch of being fatal — but miraculously missing the critical arteries and areas. We’re very lucky,” wrote Shah’s son-in-law Mahin Samadani in an email on Sunday night. ”He is now stable and all signs point to a full recovery. Dr. Shah is a man who has dedicated his life to saving people’s lives.”

Authorities have charged Jimmy Harris, 56, of Chicago, with attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated unlawful restraint.

A hotel employee who came to Shah’s aid also was stabbed and taken to the hospital, according to reports.

Shah is listed as a physician with Franciscan Alliance Hospitals and on staff at the system’s hospitals in Olympia Fields and Chicago Heights in Illinois, as well as Crown Pointe and Michigan City in Indiana.

“This was an enjoyable night out for the family that turned horribly tragic — but it could have been much worse,” Samadani wrote. “Dr. Shah was senselessly attacked last night but managed to escape, and we were fortunate to be able to summon help.” The family went on to thank the Chicago Police Department and employees at Northwestern Memorial and the Westin Hotel for their help.

Ÿ ABC 7 Chicago contributed to this report.