Two men have been charged after prosecutors say one of them opened fire at a gas station in Waukegan and then led multiple police agencies on a high-speed 30-minute pursuit through Lake County.
The Waukegan Police Department issued a regional radio broadcast to area police departments around 3:50 a.m. Friday.
The alert said a brown Kia Soul fled from a shooting at the BP gas station, 902 Grand Avenue in Waukegan.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said officers recovered seven spent shell casings in front of the gas station.
The clerk told officers he heard gunshots and looked outside where he saw a brown Kia Soul fleeing and a man running.
Bullets hit the gas station building and a vehicle belonging to a patron of the gas station was struck by gunfire as well, Smoler said.
Surveillance video showed the brown Kia Soul driving northbound on Jackson Street while an unidentified male was walking.
The man crossed the street on Grand Avenue and the front passenger of the Kia, later identified as Andrew Lopez-Zereno, 18, of Waukegan, could be seen firing a gun seven times out the window toward the pedestrian, Smoler said.
The Kia was driven by Jose Zavala, 18, of Waukegan. Smoler said the owner of the Kia did not consent to Zavala driving the car, which was stolen while parked at the owner’s home.
Lake County sheriff’s deputies located the offending vehicle around 5:20 a.m. in the area of Green Bay Road and Grand Avenue in Waukegan, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
They attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle but the Kia fled.
Sheriff’s deputies initiated a pursuit and it traveled south all the way to Route 41 and Route 60 in Lake Forest, Covelli said.
The driver of the vehicle turned the Kia around and traveled back northbound.
The Waukegan Police Department and Lake Bluff Police Department also joined the sheriff’s office in the pursuit at separate points.
Smoler said the Kia drove recklessly during the pursuit by disregarding traffic control devices, traveling at speeds of more than 80 mph, driving into oncoming traffic, driving into a home’s front yard and driving at police vehicles.
Covelli said the Kia stopped in the 1100 block of Judge Avenue in Waukegan around 5:55 a.m. and the driver and passenger fled from the car.
The two suspects, who were initially thought to be juveniles but later confirmed to be adults, were apprehended following a brief foot pursuit, Covelli said.
Burglary tools and a loaded firearm were located.
Zavala was charged with four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude, two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, possession of burglary tools, possession of a stolen vehicle and obstructing a peace officer.
Lopez-Zereno was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, burglary, possession of burglary tools, possession of a stolen vehicle, obstructing a peace officer and two counts of criminal damage to property.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain both men pending trial.
They are scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Monday afternoon.