Tavares Reed, 28, of Waukegan, (inset) was charged in connection with the shooting death of Che Hearn in the 1700 block of Joanna Avenue in Zion on September 17, 2021. | Background Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2021)

Police say they have captured a Waukegan man who fled the state after traveling to a Zion man’s apartment following a bar dispute and fatally shooting him in September.

A preliminary autopsy showed Che Hearn, 31, of Zion, died from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

The Zion Police Department responded around 7:30 a.m. on September 17 to the 1700 block of Joanna Avenue in Zion for a report of shots fired.

Officers arrived and found Hearn, who resided at the residence, shot and critically wounded, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli.

Zion Police Department Lt. Christopher Sweeting said evidence showed someone standing on the lawn just outside of the apartment fired the shots.

Hearn, who was inside the residence when he was shot, was transported to an area hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

[Suggested Article]  Driver accused of driving recklessly before crashing into building in Harvard, injuring worker inside
Police investigate the shooting death of Che Hearn in the 1700 block of Joanna Avenue in Zion on September 17, 2021. | Background Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2021)

The Zion Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

Investigators from the Zion Police Department and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force “worked tirelessly” investigating the incident, Sweeting said.

Investigators obtained evidence showing that Tavares Reed, 28, of Waukegan, was the suspect in the case.

Sweeting said it is believed that Reed and Hearn had a brief but heated encounter at a tavern in Kenosha in the early morning hours of September 17.

Hearns and Reed went their separate ways after the encounter.

Che A. Hearn, 31, of Zion | Photo: Bradshaw & Range Funeral Home

Reed is believed to have traveled to Hearn’s apartment in Zion later that morning and fired several rounds into it, Sweeting said.

Reed, who was out of prison on parole for a weapons violation, fled the state immediately following the shooting, Sweeting said.

[Suggested Article]  No injuries after former horse betting facility catches fire in Waukegan

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved an arrest warrant for first-degree murder and a judge signed the warrant on October 15.

Attempts to locate Reed while he was out of state were unsuccessful but officers learned he returned to Illinois and they were able to locate him in Chicago.

He was taken into custody without incident on Saturday, Sweeting said.

A judge set bond on the warrant at $5 million. Reed is expected to be transported to the Lake County Jail soon.