A Zion man has been extradited to Lake County and was ordered held on a $2 million bond for allegedly shooting his estranged wife and a man, critically injuring them, at a packaging plant in Waukegan.
The incident happened around 11:14 p.m. on May 24 at the Bolke Miller Company, 1350 Bridge Drive in Waukegan.
Officers located two gunshot victims who were seriously wounded in the parking lot, according to fire department radio traffic.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said a 42-year-old Zion woman had been shot in the stomach.
A second victim, a 25-year-old North Chicago man, had been shot in the chest.
A vehicle belonging to the female victim had a bullet hole in the windshield.
Both victims were transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Chastain said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and investigators identified the gunman as the female victim’s husband.
The suspect, Tomas Tapia, 42, of Zion, allegedly fled the scene and his vehicle was located unoccupied a short time later in Waukegan.
An arrest warrant was obtained the next day for Tapia charging him with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
The female victim and Tapia were separated at the time, Chastain said. The motive for the shooting was not released.
Police warned that Tapia was considered armed and dangerous.
Chastain said in earlier June that investigators learned Tapia traveled out of Waukegan heading south with an unknown companion.
Tapia approached law enforcement in New Mexico and advised them that he was wanted.
Law enforcement officials in New Mexico confirmed Tapia had an active arrest warrant and took him into custody.
Tapia has been held in the Lincoln County Jail in New Mexico and on Tuesday he was transported back to Illinois.
Tapia appeared in court Wednesday where Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered him held on a $2 million bond.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said Wednesday the victims remain hospitalized with critical injuries.
The man’s attorney, Robert T. Ritacca, said during the court hearing that his client has a self-defense claim in the case.
Ritacca also said that Tapia has a minimal criminal history.
Tapia remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $200,000 cash in order to be released.