La Grange Road Rage Suspect Found At Western Springs Workplace: Cops

LA GRANGE, IL – A man accused of pointing a gun at another driver last month continued to his workplace in Western Springs, where officers found him, police said.

Ricardo Rivera, 18, of Chicago, was arrested on charges of felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor aggravated assault, police said. Authorities said he had no firearm owner's identification card or concealed carry license.

Patch obtained the police report through a public records request.

Shortly after noon Aug. 6, La Grange police said they were called about a man, later identified as Rivera, pointing a gun at another driver, a juvenile, while driving on 47th Street, near Leitch Avenue, in La Grange. This is a couple of blocks east of Mariano's grocery store, which is in neighboring Western Springs.

Rivera then parked in the parking lot at the grocery store, where he worked at the Starbucks inside, police said.

Police closed Mariano's for a time after they saw Rivera enter, with an officer briefly removing his gun from its holster but not pointing it, according to the report.

An officer spoke with Rivera, but the teen denied displaying a gun to another driver. He was allowed to go to work, with an officer watching him.

About four hours later, Rivera, on his own accord, arrived at the La Grange police station to speak with officers.

Rivera, who attended Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park and graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in Riverside in May, said he took the "scenic" route to work, not traveling on 47th Street, police said.

Rivera, who was driving a Honda Civic, said he passed by Nazareth Academy and St. John of the Cross Parish School in Western Springs, both of which he had attended.

However, officials challenged Rivera's account. So he asked one of the two officers to leave.

Rivera then admitted to being angry in traffic and that he pointed a 9mm Taurus PT-111 handgun at the driver of a BMW, police said.

Rivera consented to a search of his car. Officers said they found the gun. A magazine held six live rounds, but no round was in the chamber, police said.

Rivera, who was arrested, was allowed to make phone calls, but declined. Nonetheless, his family showed up, requesting updates. Rivera asked police not to update them, the report said.