Man Dies After Aggravated Battery, Police Release Suspect Photo

NEW LENOX, IL — The Will County Sheriff's Office is asking for help identifying a suspect involved in what they are calling an aggravated battery that took place June 12 in New Lenox Township.

A man beaten during the incident later died at Palos Community Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. The medical examiner has ruled the death a homicide.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies responded to a battery complaint at 5:30 p.m. June 12 at Shades of Darkness Window Tinting, 13957 W. Illinois Highway, in New Lenox Township. When they arrived, police spoke with the owner Wayne Deutsch, 39, of Orland Park.

Deutsch told police that a man with a large beard had beaten him, the sheriff's office said. Deutsch had previously done work on the man's car, and Deutsch said the man had come into the store asking for a refund on the window tint he had paid for.

According to the sheriff's office, Deutsch and the man "had words," and the man left the store. Moments later, the man returned and started a physical confrontation with Deutsch and began beating Deutsch as he fell to the floor. The man then fled in a dark-colored Chrysler 300 with tinted windows.

Deutsch refused medical treatment at the scene, and he was unwilling to provide detectives with information on the identity of the suspect, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office said detectives were told on June 14 that Deutsch had been in the hospital and suffered from multiple broken ribs with fluid in his lungs. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, Deutsch died June 17 at Palos Community Hospital after suffering multiple rib fractures and an accumulation of blood in the left portion of his lung and chest.

The Will County Sheriff's Office said it has not received any official information pertaining to the manner and cause of death for Deutsch, referring to the case as an "aggravated battery."

Police said the case remains active, and the investigation unit is asking for helping in identifying the man pictured above, who they call a suspect. If anyone has any information related to this incident, you can contact Detective Sean Moran at 815-727-8574, ext. 4914.