Lake Forest man charged with punching shopper in parking lot dispute

A Lake Forest man was charged with aggravated battery after he punched a 61-year-old man outside of Costco in Mettawa in a parking lot dispute, authorities said.

Bruce Mordini, 49, of the 400 block of Ridge Road, is free after posting the required 10 percent of his $10,000 bail Wednesday afternoon.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Marc Bangser said the victim drove his car to the front door of the Costco on the 25000 block of Riverwoods Road at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday to load groceries with his wife.

Mordini began yelling at the victim and his wife, claiming the victim almost hit him with the car, Bangser said. Mordini then slammed his fist hard onto the trunk of the car, authorities said.

The victim got out of the car to talk to Mordini, who became irate and charged at the man, Bangser said. Bangser said Mordini — a former high school and college basketball player who stands 6 feet, 8 inches tall — punched the 5 foot, 8 inch tall victim during the initial confrontation.

The punch caused the older man to attempt to flee into the Costco, but Mordini punched him again, this time in front of store employees, Bangser said.

Police arrested Mordini, who is charged with aggravated battery.

According to totalbasketballstats.com, Mordini was a forward on the 1982 Highland Park High School basketball team, picked by many as the best team in school history. The team was enshrined in the school's hall of fame in 2012.

Mordini is due in court on April 2 at 10:30 a.m.