Sources: repair of an old car may be involved in killing of Orland Park man

Police are investigating the murder of Lockport resident Ibrahim Nofal, 28, who was reported missing Tuesday July 13. Nofal operated an auto repair shop at 15563 S. 70th Court in Orland Park.

Nofal's body was discovered Saturday morning by hikers in Pilcher Park in Joliet. The coroner confirmed his identity early Tuesday.

A video shows a silver or gray 1996 to 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee pulling in to Nofal's shop around 6:30 pm last week. It drove away a short time later. Orland Park police, according to reports, believe Nofal was in the car.

Details on the murder are sketchy and his family and relatives are in shock. Services have been held for him at the local mosques.

Sources are saying that it is possible that there was a disagreement involving the repair of a vehicle that Nofal had sold to a customer, but there is no confirmation. Police have declined to speculate on the reason for the apparent kidnapping or the cause of death which remains under investigation.

Police are asking if anyone knows any information on the death to call Orland Park police at 708-349-4111, Joliet Police at 815-724-3100 or the Will County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-323-6734. The family has offered a $50,000 reward for information on his whereabouts.

Reports say the reward may be increased in light of his death, and to anyone who provides information leading  to the arrest of the individual or individuals involved.

END

Proud to receive my 4th Peter Lisagor Award for "In-Depth" reporting from the Society of Professional Journalist's Chicago Headline Club

I won a Society of Professional Journalism Lisagor Award for a series I did on an American Arab Grocer who claimed he was the victim of anti-Arab bias by the suburban village where his store is located. Had I not written the story, no one in the Chicagoland media would have “wasted” their time covering the complaint. No one would listen to him and for a year, he was being harassed. When I started writing the story, I discovered in fact he was targeted by village inspectors who he said and I believe were trying to shut him down. They arrested him and his wife and son in August 2009 after receiving a complaint that he was “storing” food (that was canned) in a vacant store next to his own. The 911 tapes of police showed – after weeks of trying to get them – that the police had targeted him for being “Arab” – they said they were going to “shut down” an “Arab store owner.”

The Lisagor Awards are the highest honors you can receive from a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The Chicago Headline Club is the largest US Chapter. They were awarded last Friday April 23. This is my 4^th Lisagor; I received three others for column writing. This one was awarded for In-Depth Reporting.

My awards include:

1984, Lisagor Award for Column Writing, Daily Southtown

2002, Lisagor Award for Column Writing, Arlington Heights Daily Herald

2004, Lisagor Award for Column Writing, Southwest News-Herald

2009, Lisagor Award for In-Depth Reporting, Southwest News-Herald

2006, Best Ethnic Columnist in America, New America Media

2009, Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award, the Mehdi Family

I have one more award that will be announced next week.

Thanks everyone for your support.

Thanks so much

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com