Sheriff’s officials say an armed Rockford man tried burglarizing a car at a residence near Woodstock and then opened fire on a resident who confronted him.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded in the early morning hours on January 21 to the 5100 block of Timber Lane in unincorporated Woodstock for a report of shots fired.
Deputies learned that an attempted car burglary occurred, the sheriff’s office said.
The victim told deputies a male suspect entered his vehicle, which was parked in an open carport near his house.
The suspect fired four rounds from a handgun in the direction of the victim as he approached, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect continued to fire shots as he ran to a waiting car in the roadway. The suspect then fled the area.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene and conducted an investigation.
Evidence was obtained during the investigation that led to the suspect being identified as James D. Mercer, 18, of Rockford.
Mercer was charged with attempted first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and six counts of reckless discharge of a firearm.
Mercer is in custody at the Winnebago County Jail on unrelated charges relating to another shooting.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the McHenry County charges and his bond was set at $250,000 on the warrant.
An initial court hearing date was not immediately available.