Chicago Charter Captain Fatally Attacked After Confronting Boat Trespassers
A beloved Chicago charter boat captain has been murdered after confronting a group of trespassers who broke onto his yacht at DuSable Harbor. Alexis Trader, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Labor Day weekend death of Nabil Abzal, 63, widely known as "Captain Bill." The tragic incident occurred in August 2025, with charges filed six months later in February 2026.
Details of the Fatal Confrontation
According to prosecutors, Abzal was sleeping aboard his charter yacht "Gone" on August 30, 2025, when Trader allegedly scaled a locked dock gate around 2:45 a.m. Surveillance footage shows Trader letting three friends—a man and two women—onto the pier. The women boarded the boat and began taking photos, prompting Abzal to emerge and confront them.
After escorting the women off the vessel and toward the gate, Abzal opened it, at which point Trader allegedly approached and struck him. The impact caused the captain to hit his head on a metal part of the gate before falling into the water and sinking. "It's the equivalent of giving someone a push as they stand next to a cliff," said Assistant State's Attorney Michael Pekara. "This was an unprovoked attack on a senior citizen."
Aftermath and Investigation
A nearby fisherman heard the splash and was informed by Trader that someone had fallen into the water and needed rescue. Trader called 911 but provided a false name, "Young James," and did not disclose his role in the incident. Police and paramedics arrived shortly after, with Trader pointing to where Abzal had submerged but again omitting any mention of the assault.
Prosecutors allege Trader then scaled the fence to retrieve what appeared to be a wallet before leaving the scene with the group in a ride-share vehicle. Ten minutes later, Chicago Fire Department divers recovered Abzal's body; he was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy confirmed drowning and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators later found blunt wraps and vapes on the boat where the women had been sitting. Surveillance video captured Trader striking Abzal, and body-worn camera footage from a prior DUI arrest helped identify him. Trader was already in custody on an unrelated aggravated battery case when charged with murder. His criminal history, dating to 2008, includes burglaries, attempted burglaries, armed robbery, and an alleged attack on a gas station attendant in January 2025.
Court Proceedings and Community Impact
In court, defense attorney Scott Kozicki argued that no one directly witnessed Trader strike Abzal and claimed his client stayed to help, calling 911 and providing information. However, prosecutors emphasized Trader's recklessness and deception, including giving a false name and fleeing the scene.
Judge Hock ordered Trader held in jail pending trial, citing his violent history and the nature of the alleged attack. "A violent punch in this way of someone who's not expecting it at night, it's clear that it'll be a strong probability of death or great bodily harm," Hock stated. Trader's next court date is scheduled for February 25.
Abzal's death has devastated his family and the local boating community. A licensed charter captain, he often slept on vessels to avoid commuting from his home in Plainfield, Illinois. His wife, Laura Abzal, expressed shock and grief, noting his safety-conscious nature and love for Chicago and Lake Michigan. "He never met someone who wasn't a friend," she said, adding that he earned the nickname "Captain Bill" due to difficulties pronouncing his given name.
