Willowbrook Teenager Charged in Beating of Darien Man

A Willowbrook teenager has been charged with five counts of felony aggravated battery in connection with the Tuesday attack of Inderjit Singh Mukker, of Darien.

The teenager also reportedly punched an officer in the face when police went to his home, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

• Read more on this story: Attacker Screamed ‘Terrorist Go Back to Your Country’ as He Beat Darien Man

Darien police Chief Ernest Brown said the suspect is 17 years old. A court date has not yet been set.

Darien police were called around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to a road rage incident and battery near Cass and 69th. Mukker and the teenager reportedly got into an argument and pulled over on the side of the road. Prosecutors say the teenager got out of his car, and the two spoke before the teenager punched Mukker in the face and ran away.

Officers found Mukker in his car with cuts and bruises on his cheeks, the state’s attorney’s office reported.

He lost consciousness and was taken to Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, where he was treated for a fractured cheekbone and a serious cut on his cheek. He received six stitches.

Sikh Coalition legal director Harsimran Kaur called for the attack to be investigated as a hate crime.

“We believe Mr. Mukker was targeted and assaulted because of his Sikh religious appearance, race or national origin,” Kaur said in a media statement.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin said in a statement “physical attacks will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law.”