During a gender reveal celebration at an Illinois steakhouse, tragedy struck when the owner was fatally stabbed, and authorities have now taken his girlfriend’s son into custody in connection with the incident.
According to the coroner’s office, Joshua Kirkwood, who owned 41 14 Forty One Fourteen Steaks and Seafood in Waukegan, Illinois, suffered multiple stab wounds on Saturday night. He was later pronounced dead at Vista Medical Center East. The 51-year-old Kirkwood had become embroiled in an argument with his girlfriend—who also served as the restaurant’s manager—while the gender reveal party was underway on the lower level of the establishment.
Amid the escalating dispute, two of the manager’s sons are alleged to have become involved. Reports indicate that her 16-year-old son seized a kitchen knife and stabbed Kirkwood several times before fleeing the scene with his older brother, 21-year-old Iziah Gonzalez. It was also reported that during the incident, both Gonzalez and his mother sustained stab wounds.
Records reveal that the 21-year-old Gonzalez has been arrested and is currently being held at Lake County Jail on a murder charge. Meanwhile, his brother and their mother have been named as co-defendants in court documents, though they have not yet faced formal charges. Police have recovered the kitchen knife that is believed to have been used as the murder weapon.
The local community and friends of Kirkwood are deeply mourning the loss of the business owner. A prayer vigil was organized on Monday to honor his memory and to come together in support during this difficult time. Former Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, who was a close friend of Kirkwood, commented on the heartbreaking nature of the event: “For a celebration to turn into this, and for him to have lost his life in the place where he dedicated so much of his life, is incredibly devastating.”
Kirkwood is survived by his four children, and his death has left a significant void in both his family and the local community. One mourner expressed the enduring pain of such a loss: “I know how it feels because I lost a child. It’s something you live with every day; it never leaves your mind.”
Waukegan resident Jurnee Iverson also reflected on Kirkwood’s vision for his establishment, noting that he had always hoped it would serve as a vibrant community hub where people could enjoy brunch, karaoke, and games together. Iverson summed up the collective sentiment by stating, “He didn’t deserve this, and his family certainly didn’t deserve this.”
As the investigation continues, community members and law enforcement officials are working to piece together all the events that led to this senseless act of violence, hoping to bring clarity and justice to those affected by the tragedy.