Diego Sanchez, 18, of Wauconda.

Three men have been charged after their friend, who was in their vehicle, was unintentionally shot in the chest and arm as they opened fire on another vehicle in Waukegan, police said.

Marc Sanchez, 20, of Wauconda, Diego Sanchez, 18, of Wauconda, and Zachery Zavala, 21, of Waukegan, were all charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Diego Sanchez also faces two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a FOID or concealed carry permit.

The Waukegan Police Department responded around 8 p.m. February 24 to Jackson Street and Grove Avenue for multiple reports of shots fired in the area.

As officers were responding, an area hospital notified police of a gunshot victim that was brought to their emergency room. The victim, a 19-year-old Waukegan man, had suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and chest and was in serious condition.

[Suggested Article]  Round Lake man among those arrested amid ICE immigration operation in Lake County, Chicagoland area

The Waukegan Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit was called to investigate the shooting. Investigators believe that the victim was in a black Toyota Corolla with three other men, later identified to be Diego Sanchez, Marc Sanchez and Zavala.

Investigators said that the four men encountered a second vehicle, occupied by a 19-year-old Waukegan man, who the four men know.

Waukegan Police Commander Joe Florip said that some of the occupants in the Toyota opened fire on the second vehicle. Investigators believe that the gunshot victim was struck by “friendly fire” by other occupants of the Toyota as they opened fire on the other vehicle.

Police recovered over 20 spent shell casings at the scene from three different guns.

No one in the second vehicle was struck by the gunfire. Police arrested Diego Sanchez after he brought the victim to the hospital on February 24. The victim is not facing charges at this time, Florip said.

[Suggested Article]  Firefighter transported to hospital, resident injured after 2-acre brush fire near Wauconda

Zavala and Marc Sanchez, who is not related to Diego Sanchez, were both arrested by police in Racine County, Wisconsin following a pursuit on Saturday. They are being held in the Racine County Jail while they await extradition to Lake County.

The Toyota used in the shooting has not been recovered yet. Florip said it has an Illinois license plate of 9625036.

Marc Sanchez was also wanted on a separate warrant for aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated domestic battery after he allegedly shot a family member in the leg during an argument in March 2019.

Mugshots of Marc Sanchez and Zavala were not immediately available Monday.