Man charged with hate crime in Chicago death
Chicago police say a man who died after defending his teenage daughter in a confrontation with another man was the victim of a hate crime.
Michael Tingling argued with the man after he made inappropriate gestures toward Tingling's daughter on Wednesday in the North Side Rogers Park neighborhood.
Police say the alleged assailant, 59-year-old Joseph Firek, then shoved and punched Tingling while making racist comments. The victim and his daughter fled to a business, where the 59-year-old Tingling collapsed.
He was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy found he died of heart disease with stress from the fight being a factor. The medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide.
Firek was charged with first-degree murder and committing a hate crime. He is to appear in bond court Friday.