Nicholas M. Caban, 20, of Highland Park (left) and Jacob Firestone, 19, of Highland Park (appropriate).

Prosecutors have filed murder charges against two males who got into a “violent confrontation” and allegedly killed a Highland Park father and company owner at Fort Sheridan Beach in September.

Lake County Assistant State’s Lawyer Lillian Lewis mentioned that a man, who lives in Highland Park close to the Fort Sheridan Beach, known as 911 just just before 1 a.m. on September 17.

The caller, identified as Matthew Ascaridis, 45, reported persons had been on the beach producing a lot of noise.

Shortly soon after the contact, a Lake County Forest Preserve police officer responded to the beach but did not uncover any person, Lewis mentioned throughout a bond hearing.

The officer observed a wheelbarrow on the beach. Lewis mentioned the wheelbarrow was left there to be collected at a later time as officers continued to investigate.

A individual walking on Fort Sheridan Beach hours later about five:12 a.m. reported discovering a deceased man.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred on the beach at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve on the border of Highland Park and Lake Forest on September 17, 2022. | Photo: Max Weingardt

The Highland Park Police Division responded to the contact in the -one hundred block of Cliff Road in Highland Park.

Officers arrived and confirmed the man, identified as Ascaridis, was deceased close to the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Lake County Important Crime Process Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli mentioned that Ascaridis, who lived in the location, had gone outdoors to speak with the loud group on the beach earlier that morning about 1 a.m.

Covelli mentioned Ascaridis created speak to with Jacob Firestone, 19, of Highland Park, and Nicholas M. Caban, 20, when a “violent confrontation” ensued, top to Ascaridis’ death.

Ascaridis was a father of two and the owner of a economic solutions corporation primarily based in Glenview.

Lewis mentioned Caban known as 911 hours later about five:23 a.m. to report he and Firestone had been involved in a physical altercation with a man on the beach.

Caban told dispatchers that he was at his dwelling in the 3400 block of Dato Avenue in Highland Park with Firestone, prompting Highland Park officers to respond.

Firestone was outdoors of Caban’s dwelling on the front lawn when officers arrived, Lewis mentioned.

Matthew Ascaridis, 45, of Highland Park, died on September 17, 2022, at the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Beach on the border of Highland Park and Lake Forest. | Offered Photo

A search warrant was carried out at Caban’s residence and officers situated the exact same wheelbarrow, which had been on the beach, outdoors of the garage behind a fence, Lewis mentioned.

The wheelbarrow had been removed from the beach throughout the course of the investigation, Lewis mentioned.

Officers observed a red substance, believed to be blood, on the wheelbarrow.

Lewis mentioned officers situated a backpack with Firestone’s identification card and cell telephone inside a closed garbage bin subsequent to the wheelbarrow.

Lake County Assistant State’s Lawyer Caitlin Valiulis mentioned throughout a separate court hearing that officers also located a loaded Glock 9mm handgun in a North Face backpack inside the residence on Caban’s bed throughout the warrant.

The serial quantity on the gun was not visible and had been “clearly” scratched off, Valiulis mentioned, noting that sand was located in the backpack.

A garbage bag with various boxes of ammunition was located in Caban’s bedroom as nicely.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred on the beach at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve on the border of Highland Park and Lake Forest on September 17, 2022. | Photo: Max Weingardt

Covelli mentioned that the gun recovered was not employed in the beach confrontation.

Adam Sheppard, Caban’s lawyer, mentioned Caban and Firestone had been “pummeled” throughout the fight on the beach.

Sheppard mentioned Caban had to get staples in his head and he suffered a black eye.

Lawyer Jed Stone mentioned that Firestone was beaten in the head with a flashlight by Ascaridis.

Firestone was transported by ambulance to Highland Park Hospital and then later transferred to Evanston Hospital exactly where he underwent brain surgery due to a brain bleed, Stone mentioned.

Caban was initially charged with one particular count of unlawful possession of a firearm with no a serial quantity, a Class three felony, and released from the Lake County Jail soon after posting ten% of his $one hundred,000 bond.

Firestone was initially charged with two counts of felony obstructing justice and was arrested soon after he was released from the hospital. He was also released soon after posting ten% of his $75,000 bond.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred on the beach at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve on the border of Highland Park and Lake Forest on September 17, 2022. | Photo: Max Weingardt

An autopsy performed on Ascaridis showed he died from “multiple injuries,” according to the Lake County Coroner’s Workplace.

Highland Park resident Jamie Stronberg mentioned in a GoFundMe produced for the Ascaridis household that the unexpected passing of Ascaridis to a “senseless act of violence” has been “devasting to these who knew and loved him.”

“Matt was an unbelievable husband to the like of his life, Darci and a loving and devoted father to Alex &amp Ivy. He was a type, really hard-functioning, salt-of-the-earth guy who usually greeted good friends and household with his warmth and a smile,” Stronberg mentioned.

Stronberg mentioned that the GoFundMe account, which raised practically $85,000, aimed to take the economic burden off Darci Ascaridis “as she learns to navigate life with no her Matt.”

“Darci, Alex &amp Ivy are all so grateful for the outpouring of like and assistance they have received. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts on behalf of the Ascaridis household,” Strongberg mentioned.

Caban, whilst out on bond, was charged in an arson fire that occurred in Lake Forest. He was ordered held on a $1.two million bond, which was later decreased and he was released final month.

Court records show arrest warrants had been issued Thursday for Caban and Firestone charging them with second-degree murder in Ascaridis’s death.

Firestone was taken into the custody of the Lake County Jail Thursday afternoon. Caban is not in custody but.