Prosecutors say a North Chicago began flashing gang signs at another person before firing a gun at an occupied vehicle at a gas station in Waukegan.
Luis E. Garcia, 29, of North Chicago, was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
The Waukegan Police Department was dispatched on March 26 for a report of shots fired at a gas station on Lewis Avenue.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said officers met with the victim who reported his vehicle had been shot the prior night.
The victim parked his vehicle at the gas station around 11:40 p.m. on March 25 and went inside to make a purchase.
He returned to his truck when his passenger told him to drive away quickly.
As the two fled the area, a shot was fired at the truck, Vukovich said. A bullet struck the passenger door.
Video surveillance was recovered and Garcia was seen pumping gas when the victim’s Dodge truck pulled into the gas station, Vukovich said.
Vukovich said Garcia and the victim’s passenger began flashing gang signs at each other while the victim was inside the gas station.
The video showed Garcia retrieve a gun from his car, Vukovich said. He continued pumping gas while holding the gun.
Garcia then fired a shot at the truck as it left the gas station, Vukovich said.
Garcia is a convicted felon for a prior arson case and is barred from possessing guns. He does not have a concealed carry license or Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him, calling him a danger to the community.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted the petition and remanded Garcia to the Lake County Jail pending trial.
Garcia is scheduled to appear in court again on May 1 for a status of attorney hearing.