When four thugs tried to mug a pizza delivery guy in Harvey, Illinois, they had no idea they were robbing a state senator. But Napoleon Harris’ political muscle was the least of their problems.
He’s also a former NFL linebacker, a 6’3, 250-pound mountain of muscle. And his quick action may have even helped police solve a murder.
Harris, the owner of Beggars Pizza franchises in Orland Park and Harvey, was making a delivery at the time of the incident. It was closing time at the restaurant at 369 E. 147th St. in Harvey when one last call came in for pizza delivery, so Harris decided to do it himself.
When he arrived at the house in the 15800 block of Paulina Avenue, he encountered a man sitting on the porch. Then three other men came out from the bushes and attacked Harris. Instead, they got the shock of their lives.
Instead of a scrawny teenager, they were faced by the former NFL linebacker Napolean Harris. The thugs did manage to run off with Harris’s wallet, but ultimately they were no match for the man. As the four thieves tried to escape, Harris gave chase and called the police.
Thanks to Harris’ help, the police were able to catch three of the fourth suspects and arrest them. They are currently searching for the fourth.
“We haven’t pressed charges yet, but we’re going to,” police spokesman Sean Howard told the Chicago Tribune.
It turns out that the thugs may also be looking at more serious charges than assault and theft. When they ran from Napoleon, one of the suspects abandoned their car. An investigation revealed that the car was stolen and covered in blood. The car’s owner was found dead.
Napoleon is just happy that none of his staff were hurt.
“He feels he was better capable of handling this incident than they would have been,” Sean Howard explains. “The thugs were expecting a scrawny 5-foot-9 guy, and got Harris instead.”
With that evidence, and with Harris’ descriptions of the men, police tracked down the suspects. Two were stopped as they were stepping off a Megabus from Chicago. A third was found at a Georgia mental institution where he had checked himself in. A fourth man, who hails from Gary, Indiana, was held for 72 hours but later released. He has not yet been charged but is likely to be charged in relation to the attack.
Harris, who is a licensed concealed carry holder, did not have his gun with him at the time of the attack. Howard said his children were with him in the car earlier that day, and he was not comfortable having a gun in their presence.
You can watch a news clip about the incident below:
Sources: OpposingViews, Chicago Tribune