Motorist drove onto golf course, struck 70-year-old on the 5th hole, officials say; charges filed

May 14, 2025 7:57 PM Tim Hecke Forest Glen
A golfer confronts a man identified as Tory Gardner on the Billy Caldwell Golf Course. (Chicago Contrarian)

A Cicero man has been charged with driving onto a Northwest Side golf course Monday evening and striking a 70-year-old man on the fifth hole.

Tory L. Gardner, 30, is expected to appear in court for the first time Thursday afternoon.

Gardner drove his SUV onto the Billy Caldwell Golf Course, 6150 North Caldwell, around 5:30 p.m. and struck the septuagenarian as other golfers looked on in shock, according to witnesses. The victim remains in the intensive care unit at St. Francis Hospital, according to a Forest Preserves of Cook County spokesperson.

Later, Gardner allegedly brandished a knife when he exited his vehicle on the golf course.

Videos posted online and shared below show Chicago police officers driving down a fairway and later arresting Gardner on the links. Before police arrived, a golfer confronted Gardner on the course and swung an object in circles, seemingly to keep Gardner at bay.

Prosecutors charged Gardner with aggravated battery to a senior citizen causing great bodily harm and unlawful use of a knife.

More information about exactly what officials believe happened and, potentially, why it happened, should be revealed during Gardner’s court appearance.

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About Tim Hecke 1930 Articles
Tim Hecke is CWBChicago's managing partner. He started his career at KMOX, the legendary news radio station in St. Louis. From there, he moved on to work at stations in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York City. Tim went on to build syndicated radio news and content services that served every one of America's 100 largest radio markets. He became CWBChicago's managing partner in 2019. His email address is [email protected]
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