Lake in the Hills restaurateur fatally shot on city's Northwest Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A well-known restaurateur was fatally shot on the city's Northwest Side early Thursday.

Peter Rim, 46, owned El Cochino and Bistro Wasabi in Lake in the Hills. Rim was a passenger in a car driving westbound in the 4100-block of West Diversey Avenue at about 6:45 a.m. Thursday when an unknown SUV pulled up alongside and there was a verbal exchange. Following the exchange someone pulled out a gun and began shooting into the car, police said.

Rim was shot in the head and died at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Bistro Wasabi dedicated a Facebook post in his honor, calling him "wild, fun, energetic and loving." His friend said at the time he was shot, Rim and friends were returning from a birthday party.

"Of all the people it could have happened to, it was somebody like, somebody like him who wouldn't hurt anybody and he didn't deserve something like that act of crime, for it to happen to him," said Connie Alvarez, friend.

Alvarez said the friends who were with Rim in the car said it was a random attack and a tragedy.

A police investigation is ongoing, but so far no suspects are in custody.