A woman was charged with possessing a gun after a 5-year-old boy was shot at a residence in Waukegan and dropped off at a hospital Wednesday, prosecutors said.
Tatyanna Stegall, 27, of Waukegan, was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, improper traffic lane usage and unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver.
A 5-year-old boy was brought to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan on Wednesday, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Caitlin Valiulis.
The child had sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Joe Florip said the shooting was believed to have occurred at a residence in the 500 block of McAlister Avenue.
The boy’s father had dropped off the boy and left the hospital, Valiulis said.
The child told hospital staff that “daddy hurt me, daddy had a gun,” Valiulis said.
Officers began investigating the incident and spotted two vehicles leaving Stegall’s house.
One of the vehicles was being driven by the victim’s father and the other was being driven by Stegall, who is the victim’s stepmother.
Officers stopped Stegall and saw she was holding a bag and took it with her when she stepped out of the car.
Officers found a loaded Glock .40 caliber with a round in the chamber, Valiulis said.
Stegall reportedly does not have a Firearm Owners Identification card or a concealed carry license.
She told police that she saw the gun on the floor after the boy was shot and took it upon herself to take the gun and leave because she did not want to get the boy’s father in trouble, Valiulis said.
It is unclear who fired the gun and whether or not the shooting was accidental in nature.
Valiulis said in bond court that the actions of the father are still under investigation.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Stegall held on a $200,000 bond.
Stegall remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $20,000 cash in order to be released.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 4.