Prosecutors say two masked men who were armed with guns stormed into a home in North Chicago that was occupied by a woman and multiple children.
Kentrell B. Burrage, 21, and Austin M. Orta, 20, both of Racine, Wisconsin, were charged with home invasion and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the North Chicago Police Department was dispatched around 9:40 p.m. on January 28 for a report of a home invasion.
The victim reported two men wearing masks entered her home while armed with guns.
The woman said she had received a text message demanding she give up her daughter. She knew the sender of the text was likely Burrage, who is her ex-boyfriend.
Katris said the victim approximately 10 minutes later heard a knock on her door and looked out the peephole but did not see anyone.
She opened the door to look outside when Orta pushed his way into the apartment, Katris said.
Burrage and Orta forced their way inside while holding handguns at their sides, Katris said. The two reportedly stayed inside the apartment for up to 15 minutes.
Four children were present in the house during the home invasion. One of the children reported seeing a gun, Katris said.
Officers were on 14th Street and spotted two individuals running toward an SUV in the parking lot. The SUV matched the description that the victim provided.
The vehicle, registered to Burrage, fled the area without headlights and officers conducted a traffic stop, Katris said.
Burrage and Orta were taken into custody and the victim positively identified them as the suspects.
Two loaded handguns, which were stolen, were located within arm’s reach of the two men in the car, Katris said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain both men pending trial, calling them real and present threats to the community.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted both petitions and remanded Burrage and Orta to the Lake County Jail after calling both of them a danger.
Burrage was out on bond in Wisconsin on a gun charge at the time of the incident.
Orta and Burrage are scheduled to appear in court again on February 29 for a preliminary hearing.