Slain man's son hopes for closure

Subir Dhingra was working out at Five Points Washington a week ago when his mother called and told him something was wrong.

She had not heard from Subir’s father, Anil, who usually called home about 8 p.m. when he was closing the family’s gas station on Peoria’s East Bluff.

“She called me at 9 p.m., and we were there (at the gas station) by about 9:20,” Subir Dhingra said. “When we turned left onto Prospect and saw the police lights and the road closed off, that’s when I knew.”

Dhingra would soon find out his father, Anil, 58, died after being shot several times as he worked behind the counter at Gas USA, 2506 N. Prospect Road.

“He was always friendly — didn’t have a problem with anyone,” Subir Dhingra said. “He did everything for his family. I couldn’t have asked for a better father.”

Police arrested 20-year-old Ali L. Evans, of 803 E. Arcadia Ave., at his home Friday on a warrant for criminal sexual abuse with force in an unrelated case. On Sunday, he also was booked on charges of murder and attempted armed robbery.

DeAngelo M. Lindsey, 17, of 812 E. McClure Ave., was arrested as his house Sunday night and booked on charges of murder and attempted armed robbery.

State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons said he had not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty for Evans. He has 120 days to decide whether to make it a capital murder case. If he doesn’t, Evans faces at least 45 years and possibly up to life in prison.

Lindsey was charged with first-degree murder but is too young to be considered for the death penalty.

Judge Paul Gilfillan set bond for Lindsey, who is on juvenile probation for residential burglary, at $1 million while Evans, who has convictions for aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal sexual abuse, had his bond set at $1.25 million.

Police said they were able to learn the suspects’ identities after talking with witnesses. A security system was supposed to be installed in the gas station this week, as the Dhingra family has owned it only about six weeks.

Police are describing the incident as a botched robbery attempt, though Subir Dhingra said nothing was taken from the store. He said his father would have been cooperative with robbers.

“If they had wanted to rob him, he would have given them anything,” Subir Dhingra said. “He and I had talked about it before and agreed that if someone came in with a gun, we’d give them what they want.

“Money is replaceable. Your life isn’t.”

The family moved from Bolingbrook, a suburb of Chicago, to Washington about 1 1/2 years ago. They previously owned the Clark gas station at 802 Peoria St. in Washington. Anil Dhingra and his wife moved from India to the United States in 1984 in the hopes of having a better life, said Subir Dhingra, 27, who  graduated from the University of Illinois in 2004 and helped his father run the family business.

While he knows it will not reverse what happened to his father, Subir Dhingra said he is grateful the men allegedly responsible for his father’s death have been arrested.

“It won’t bring my father back, but, hopefully, justice will take its course,” he said. “It’s a relief they are in custody. Maybe we will get some closure.”

Anil Dhingra’s shooting last week marked Peoria’s fourth homicide of the year.

Family and friends traveled from across the state Saturday to pay their respects to the slain man.
One longtime friend, Sam, from Woodridge, said Anil Dhingra was a kind, patient man.

“He was a very helpful guy who had a good name in the community.”

The family’s gas station has been closed since the incident, and Subir Dhingra said he has not decided when — or if — he will reopen it.

“Going back to those memories will be hard,” Subir Dhingra said. “I have to financially support my mother now, but if she doesn’t want me to go back, I will respect her wishes.”

Subir Dhingra said he and his father never questioned their safety on the East Bluff.

“You definitely don’t start a business thinking you’re going to get shot one day,” he said. “This is not the way my father deserved to go out.”