The Royal Oak community is rallying around the family of a father killed in a police chase early Saturday morning in Warren.
Alex Habib leaves behind a wife and two children, 1-year-old Eleanora and 3-month-old Santiago.
“My grandkids were just the light of his eye,” said Habib’s father-in-law Dale Durant.
Warren police said the crash happened following a chase that started in Roseville and ended in Warren in the area of 11 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.
Roseville Police did not immediately respond to a request by Local 4 for more information.
Habib was a server at Jim Brady’s Restaurant in Royal Oak.
“He was one of those guys that just - he makes everything a little better,” owner Tom Brady said. “He just loves what he does, he loves taking care of people, and he made a huge impact on all of us. It was just a tragic, tragic loss. Our whole team – we’re just heartbroken.”
Durant said he juggled multiple jobs to provide for his family and was driving for Uber around 3 a.m. Saturday, July 10, when the crash happened. He said the family learned police were chasing a suspect in a stolen car.
“He was making ends meet,” Durant said. “He knew his obligations, you know, just to pick up a few extra dollars to support his family.”
The family questions why Roseville police were pursuing the suspect and what led up to the chase.
Durant said Habib’s loved ones have been given limited information surrounding the crash.
“I know that my son-in-law is not standing here next to me over a stolen car,” Durant said. “That’s how I look at it. It’s senseless. Policies need to change.”
Habib’s family started a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses and to support his children.
Donations can be made here.