A Winthrop Harbor man, who is a convicted felon, has been charged after he allegedly fired a gun in the direction of his juvenile daughter after she pulled a knife out, prosecutors said.
Willie McClinton, 35, of Winthrop Harbor, was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, a Class 3 felony, and reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the Winthrop Harbor Police Department responded on October 23 to McClinton’s neighbor’s residence.
The neighbor called 911 to report a juvenile came to her home crying and bleeding.
The girl reported she had been in a fight with her mother and that her mother beat her, Katris said.
Officers learned the victim was involved in a verbal argument with McClinton and her stepmother.
The child pulled a knife at one point and McClinton proceeded to fire a shot from a gun, Katris said.
The bullet did not hit the victim but went through a wall behind the child.
Katris said officers executed a search warrant two days later at the residence in the 1100 block of Park Avenue.
Officers found a hole in one of the studs after opening the wall and then located the lodged bullet.
It was in the same spot where the victim said it would be, Katris said.
McClinton is a convicted felon and has no Firearm Owner’s Identification card or concealed carry license.
He has previous felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and felony domestic battery in Lake County. He also has numerous other battery cases in his criminal history.
A public defender for McClinton said the alleged victim has mental health issues and the incident escalated after McClinton grounded her due to her behavior.
McClinton denies firing a weapon or possessing any weapons, the attorney added.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain McClinton pending trial.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted the petition during a detention hearing and remanded McClinton to the Lake County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 29.