Man Involved In Fatal Fort Sheridan Beach Fight Faces Firearm Charge

WAUKEGAN, IL — One of the two survivors of a early morning noise dispute that left one man dead on the Lake Michigan shoreline Saturday has been charged over an illegal gun found during a search of his home, authorities said.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, a 45-year-old man who lived near Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve went outside to talk to people who were making noise on the lakefront and "a violent confrontation ensued," according to Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesperson Chris Covelli.

That man was found dead on the shoreline shortly after 5 a.m. by a person walking along the beach. A short time later, one of the two other men involved in the fight called 911 from his home, according to police and prosecutors.

The Lake County Coroner's Office identified the dead man as Matthew Ascaridis. An autopsy conducted Monday indicated that he died of "multiple injuries," according to a coroner's office spokesperson.

Nicholas Caban, 20, of Highland Park, appeared in court Monday to face one count of unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, a class 3 felony. He was ordered to post a $10,000 cash portion of his bond as a condition of securing his pretrial release.

Investigators reported they found a loaded semiautomatic pistol in his bedroom while carrying out a search warrant within hours of opening the forest preserve death investigation.

---

According to his defense attorney, Adam Sheppard, Caban and his 18-year-old companion were "pummeled" by the dead man.

Caban, whose black eye was visible via courtroom videoconferencing software, required several stiches to his head, Sheppard said, emphasizing that he has not been charged in connection with the lakefront homicide.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Caitlin Valiulis said it was clear that someone had scratched off the serial number on the loaded 9mm Glock found in a sandy backpack in Caban's room.

Investigators do not believe the gun was used in the violent confrontation, according to task force spokesperson Christopher Covelli.

The task force is investigating the incident, along with ranger police, since it occurred in unincorporated Lake Forest.

---

Last year, Caban pleaded guilty to attempted possession of controlled substances in connection with a 2020 arrest in Highland Park in exchange for a sentence of 12-months supervision.

Prosecutors have been seeking to revoke that supervision for months. A spokesperson for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office has not said why. Following his arrest for the firearm offense, a hearing that had been set for Sept. 28 was stricken.

Caban is due back in court on the gun charge Oct. 19.

Update: Lake Forest Arson Charge Lands Nicholas Caban Back In Lake County Jail