Man charged with reckless homicide in Worth road rage incident, hit-and-run crash: police

WORTH, Ill. (WLS) -- A man has been charged in a fatal road rage incident in south suburban Worth Monday, police said.

Worth police responded to a reported hit-and-run crash at about 6:20 p.m. in the 6500-block of West 115th Street.

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Officers arrived on the scene and found a 46-year-old man, identified as Douglas Richer in court documents, was struck by a dark-colored BMW sedan, which drove away, traveling south on Natchez Avenue, police said.

Investigators said it stemmed from a road rage incident involving Richer's adult son and the driver of the BMW.

Police said Richer witnessed a road rage incident, and entered the roadway on foot, attempting to intervene.

As Richer went to check on his son, police said the BMW driver then fatally struck him.

Richer was transported to Advocate Christ Hospital, where he later died.

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Police said the BMW driver, 27-year-old Abdalla Shaban of Worth, was located moments later at his home in the 11500-block of South Natchez and arrested.

Shaban has been charged with one count of reckless homicide, one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury and multiple traffic offenses.

Shaban appeared in court in Bridgeview Thursday, where prosecutors detailed an ongoing dispute between neighbors about speeding that led to the incident.

Prosecutors say, Monday night, Shaban got into an argument outside of his home with Richer's son, regarding claims of Shaban's ongoing reckless driving in the neighborhood.

That's when, prosecutors allege, Shaban hopped back into his car and chased down Richer's son near the intersection.

At that time, Richer was trying to check on his son, and that's when prosecutors say Shaban went around another car and drove toward the son, who was also in a vehicle, but instead hit Richer, before driving back home, where police later arrested him.

Richer's wife was also outside their home at the time, prosecutors said.

Defense attorneys say Shaban did not intend to run over Richer.

"What I have before me is not short of tragic," Judge William Nahy said. "The only thing the defendant could think about was himself. He never stopped. He never helped."

But, defense attorneys say Shaban's family did help, and went back outside to assist Richer before he was taken to the hospital, where he died.

They also claim Shaban was antagonized by the victim's son.

The judge released him on 24-hour home confinement, and ordered he not drive a vehicle or make any contact with witnesses.

Families from both sides were in the courtroom Thursday.

It was a tearful exit from court for Richer's family. He was described as a father and husband.

Shaban is due back in court April 15.