Towing Company Owner Fought Robber With A Broom Before He Was Shot To Death

ALSIP, IL -- The owner of an Alsip towing company tried to fight off a would-be robber with a broom before he was shot to death and his 43-year-old son sprayed with bullets during a robbery gone bad, prosecutors said. Brian Garcia, 33, of Carpentersville, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on felony charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Garcia is currently out on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections on a gun charge.

Mohamed Salhia, 76, of Orland Park, died of a single gunshot wound after an apparent robbery at Ray’s Towing and Recovery Service, 4338 W. 127th St., Alsip. His 43-year-old son remains hospitalized with seven gunshot wounds, the prosecutor said. Another employee was able to call police when Garcia, clad in black, and wearing a hoodie and bandana over his face, entered the shop around 12:45 p.m. Sept. 19, the prosecutor said.

Tuesday was payday at Ray’s, where employees were often paid in cash. Salhia had given an employee his pay, when the employee was confronted by a masked robber, the prosecutor said. Garcia allegedly demanded that the employee hand over his money or he would be killed. The employee turned around and started to walk back into the shop when he felt himself being hit in the back of his head by a hard object and fell down.

According to the charges, Mohamed and his son were inside the shop when they both charged Garcia. Garcia fired the gun once. The employee ran to an interior office and called police. Salhia’s son pushed Garcia out of the shop, as Mohamed tried to fight him off with a broom. Outside, Garcia is believed to have fired the gun several more times. The prosecutor said that Salhia’s son received seven gunshot wounds around his body; Salhia was shot once in the torso.

A neighbor heard the shots from his apartment building adjacent to the towing company. The prosecutor said the neighbor looked out his back bedroom window, when he saw a gray Dodge Challenger parked in his space in the apartment building’s parking lot. The neighbor told police that he saw Garcia crouching down next to a fence and removing his hoodie, allowing him to get a clear view of Garcia’s face. He was also able to get a partial plate number. The prosecutor said the neighbor later positively identified Garcia from a police photo array.

Garcia, still carrying the gun, fled in the gray Dodge, which had body damage, the prosecutor said. The car was next observed by another witness driving away to the west, who had also heard part of the incident. A description of the suspect and vehicle were immediately broadcast. Oak Lawn police picked up the car at 103rd Street and Pulaski Road. Officers pursued the vehicle, during which the prosecutor said Garcia threw a black, semi-automatic, .45 caliber Ruger. Another witness who saw Garcia allegedly toss the gun stayed with it until police arrived.

The prosecutor said Garcia drove to 95th Street and Central Park Avenue in Evergreen Park, when Garcia bailed out of the car. After a brief foot pursuit, Garcia was taken into custody. The recovered gun reportedly had blood on it. Several spent .45 caliber shell casings and a .45 caliber magazine matching the Ruger were found at the crime scene, according to the complaint. Alsip police found a black hoody, black cap and a T-shirt that had been cut up to be used as a mask inside the Dodge. The prosecutor said that blood was also recovered from the car door exterior handle.

The incident was also reportedly captured on security video inside the towing company. Mohamed Salhia and his son were both taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Mohamed was pronounced deceased; his son remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Garcia is the father of two and resides in Carpentersville. She asked for a reasonable bond.

According to state prison records, Garcia was convicted in 2012 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, for which he was handed a nine-year sentence. He was paroled in February. Due to the special circumstances of the case, the prosecutor requested that Garcia be held without bail.

“Given his terrible, terrible background, he doesn’t belong out in public,” Judge Felice said, agreeing with the prosecutor.

Garcia's next court date is Oct. 11 in Bridgeview.