Three men have been charged with attempted murder of a police officer after they allegedly went on a shooting spree and at one point shot at a police officer in North Chicago.
Willie Bell, 28, of Waukegan, James Towns, 27, of Waukegan, and Raymond Steward, 26, of North Chicago, have been charged with 1st degree attempted murder of a peace officer, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.
The North Chicago Police Department responded around 1:09 a.m. Sunday to a report of shots fired near Argonne Drive and Jackson Street. Police found several spent casings at the scene.
Shortly after, officers were called to the 1500 block of Broadway Avenue for a report of a second shooting. Police found a Lyft driver who had his vehicle shot up several times.
Soon after, they were called to a report of a third shooting near 14th Street and Dugdale Road for a report of shots being fired into a moving vehicle from another moving vehicle.
At 3:14 a.m., a police officer located the suspect vehicle and tried stopping it near 19th Street and Grove Street. A vehicle pursuit ensued and one of the suspects fired at least two gunshots from the passenger-side window at the pursuing officer, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Bell, Towns and Steward were subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail.
“The officers involved in these incidents displayed the utmost degree of restraint, teamwork courage and professionalism,” North Chicago Police Chief Lazaro Perez said.
“Despite the imminent danger of being fired upon, the pursuing officer maintained his composure, tracked the offenders, and assisted in their safe apprehension,” he added.
Towns and Steward remain held in the Lake County Jail on a $1 million bond and Bell remains held on a $2 million bond.