'Drop Rice' Devilry Results in Stabbing

After getting some food from West of Eden restaurant, an incident between two brothers quickly turned into more like East of Eden, a novel by John Steinbeck.

Keith Miller, 30, of Chicago, was charged with one count of felony aggravated battery after he stabbed his brother on June 22 around 9:30 p.m.

According to the report, the two siblings picked up food from West of Eden in Skokie and returned to the assaulted brother's home in the 4900 block of Lunt Avenue. While eating their food, Miller told his brother that he was going to “stab the first person to drop rice on the floor.”

Shortly afterward, Miller began waving a large steak knife at his brother, who yelled, “Dude, calm down,” according to the report. 

Miller ignored the plea and then stabbed his brother in the left hand, resulting in the need for 22 stitches at a local hospital.

After the stabbing, Miller “giggled,” according to the report.

His brother then ran upstairs, called police and told his mother what just happened. Their mom later confronted Miller, who told her that he was tired of his brother's uncleanness.

After police arrived, they arrested Miller and questioned him at the station.

Police noted that Miller appeared to be intoxicated during the incident. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawful violation of an order of protection.

According to police documents, Miller has rarely visited the Lunt Avenue home, where he is “prohibited from entering or remaining at the household" under the court order.