An autopsy showed an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman both died from multiple gunshot wounds in a shooting in Waukegan, which local officials called “tragic and senseless.”
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 5:06 p.m. Wednesday to 2421 Washington Street for a report of shots fired.
Officers found two females that were shot in a vehicle in the rear parking lot, according to Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain.
The Waukegan Fire Department responded and confirmed the two victims were deceased.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said Thursday that the victims were identified as Serenity Childs, 19, of North Chicago, and Briana Ware Hall, 18, of Waukegan. Police initially said both women were 18 years old.
An autopsy performed Friday showed both of the women suffered multiple gunshot wounds, Banek said.
Officers secured the scene and began to canvass for witnesses and cameras.
Investigators quickly identified Jonathan Stinnette, 18, of Winthrop Harbor, as a suspect, Chastain said.
Chastain said Stinnette and a 21-year-old Waukegan resident both fled the scene in a black Nissan following the shooting.
Witness statements conducted indicate the shooting appeared to be domestic-related, Chastain said, adding that Stinnette had a relationship with one of the victims. Both victims were friends.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crime Scene Unit processed the crime scene for evidence.
Several 9mm spent casings were recovered at the scene.
Police also located a 9mm handgun that was shot empty with the gun slide locked to the rear. The weapon is being sent for testing.
Detectives learned the subjects fled north towards Winthrop Harbor where Stinnette resides.
The black Nissan was located at a residence in Kenosha, Wisconsin, that Stinnette and the second subject were known to frequent, Chastain said.
The Kenosha Police Department took both subjects into custody.
Detectives from the Waukegan Police Department traveled to Kenosha and interviewed and obtained statements from Stinnette and the second person involved.
Chastain said detectives obtained a search warrant for an apartment at 2431 Washington Street, which is where the two ran into before fleeing the scene.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved four counts of first-degree murder against Stinnette.
An arrest warrant carrying a $5 million bond was obtained.
The 21-year-old subject involved was released pending further investigation, Chastain said.
Stinnette remains held in the Kenosha County Jail pending extradition back to Illinois.
Waukegan Mayor Ann B. Taylor said in a statement that Waukegan “lost two young souls in an isolated domestic incident.”
“Over the years, I’ve hugged far too many family members who have lost loved ones to tragedy. As Mayor, I will continue to ensure we equip our police department with every tool possible to prevent crime in our community,” Taylor said.
“We will continue to look for solutions close to home by working with our faith-based and non-profit leaders, and I will continue to work with our leaders at the local, state, and federal levels to find solutions to combat the epidemic of gun violence that has infiltrated communities across this nation,” the mayor added.
Illinois State Senator Adriane Johnson said she was saddened to hear of the “tragic and senseless loss” of the two women.
“I extend my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones as they mourn their loss. The gun violence epidemic has struck our community yet again and stolen the lives of two young people far too soon. I will continue to fight this epidemic head on until we can live in a nation where people don’t have to live their lives in constant fear,” Johnson said.