An Illinois man is currently in custody following a violent road rage altercation that left a 70-year-old man with dementia severely injured and terrified. Authorities in Illinois have confirmed the arrest.

D’Angelo Groce, aged 41, has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery, as reported by the Oak Lawn Police Department.

The incident unfolded in late November at an intersection near a gas station in Oak Lawn, a suburban community nestled outside of Chicago.

On that day, Joseph and Deborah, who have chosen to withhold their last names, were attempting to merge into the right turning lane when the situation escalated.

As they adjusted their vehicle, a truck suddenly emerged from the gas station, cutting them off, according to reports from CBS News and Chicago’s radio station WBBM.

The woman then sprung into action; addressing the driver of the other car – who is alleged to have been Groce.

“When I tried to get over, he sped up and plowed into me,” Deborah told the local outlet. “I got out of the car and said, ‘What the hell, dude?’ He didn’t say a word. He came up to me and pushed me. I went backwards, and when I went backwards, I landed on my elbows. My glasses went flying backwards. I lost my phone on Cicero Avenue.”

But that incident allegedly did not end things.

Joseph, who is 73 years old and was diagnosed with dementia three years ago, got up to try to help his wife.

At that point, Groce allegedly punched the man and knocked him to the ground.

Deborah recalled a harrowing soundtrack accompanying the alleged violence. She said she heard Groce telling her husband: “Get up again, mf–er, and I’m going to finish you,” as Joseph struggled to get up.

“I was so upset,” the wife continued. “I was crying. I was saying, ‘Stop it. Stop hitting him!’”

Witnesses at the scene called police and Groce was arrested.

Ultimately, Joseph suffered a broken nose, broken jaw, two broken teeth, and scrapes on both hands, the couple said.

“I thought he was going to kill him,” Deborah told CBS News.

The man’s wife went on to document how costly the violent episode was – particularly in light of the holiday season – and said the car repairs alone cost in excess of $2,000.

“We have no dental insurance,” she said. “It’s like $7,000 we had to pay to get his surgery done.”

Deborah said the pain caused to Joseph was heartbreaking.

“He’s going through enough, and to go through this much pain that he’s been through, it’s just totally unnecessary,” she added.

Groce has a lengthy list of prior run-ins with law enforcement, according to CBS News.

The defendant was previously convicted of burglary in 2010; he was convicted of domestic violence in 2012; he was convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle in 2020.

In the present case, Groce is being detained in the Cook County Jail without bond, sheriff’s office records show.

The defendant is next slated to appear in court on Dec. 19.