A 24-year-old Sleepy Hollow man threw a Molotov cocktail into a crowd Sunday afternoon at an Algonquin grocery store, police said.
One man was injured at Joe Caputo & Sons Fruit Market, 100 S. Randall Road, according to the Daily Herald.
Suspect Fabian J. Torres arrived at the store at about 12:15 p.m. Sunday, police told the suburban publication. Torres then ran down an aisle and threw the homemade Molotov cocktail near the deli department, police said.
He was chased down by shopper Thom Petrouski, 40, from Crystal Lake. An off-duty Carpentersville police officer helped Petrouski subdue the man until police arrived.
Petrouski said he was standing at the deli counter with about 30 other people when he saw a flame go over his head. He chased Torres into the parking lot.
Torres was still holding a lighter when police arrived on the scene, Petrouski said.
One person was slightly burned on the legs, police said. The victim was treated on the scene and then released.
The store suffered some damage, police said, but will not close because of the incident.
Police believe Torres acted alone. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms searched Torres' car and found no other devices.
Torres is scheduled to appear in bond court Monday. He was charged with aggravated arson and faces up to 30 years in prison.
This isn't the first instance of Molotov cocktails being tossed in the Chicago area.
In July, David Neubauer, 26, admitted to police he threw two of the devices at a friend's vehicle before setting his father's home on fire.
The friend fled the scene as Neubauer ignited the home, police said.
