WEST RIDGE — In 2013, Norman David Esho, an 83-year-old West Ridge resident, was crossing the street when he was hit by an SUV and dragged to his death.
The man accused of hitting him, Rasheed Mujkovic, 23, fled the scene but was captured later. He was arrested, charged with reckless homicide, posted bail and released.
Now, Mujkovic is being charged with first degree murder after allegedly shooting a man in the head after a fight at a Dunning gas station in May. Esho's family is angered and saying Mujkovic should "never" have been let go after the hit-and-run.
"That's a mistake, that's a problem ... they let people out of jail and they make more problems," Esho's son Asher David said this week. "This person [should] not be out of jail, I don't know why they do this. They give a bond and then he's free outside. This is not right."
Mujkovic was ordered held on no bond Wednesday in connection with the murder in Dunning.
David said his family came to the U.S. in 1994 after fleeing war-torn Iraq. He described his father as a happy man who enjoyed music, singing and being with family in the West Ridge neighborhood.
Even at his age of 83, David said his father was still active and enjoyed taking walks around the community.
The day he was hit at the corner of Devon and California Avenues had been a pretty normal day before he was struck, David said.
Mujkovic told police that he didn't stop his car because he had drugs in it, and he drove away because he thought no one witnessed the accident and therefore wouldn't get caught, prosecutors said in 2015.
In fact, someone did see him, and police were also later able to locate the maroon SUV that Mujkovic was driving that day and had stashed with a friend.
In the reckless homicide case that ended Esho's life, Mujkovic posted 10 percent of his $150,000 bond and was released from custody in August 2013.
David said he wants to see Mujkovic stay in jail this time and said he worries about his family's safety if he's ever released.
"That's a good thing he's in jail now, he's dangerous," David said. "I don't understand why they let him outside. They [gave] him bond, that's not right."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
