Charges have been announced after four suspects exchanged gunfire — over 50 rounds — in a crowded area in downtown Waukegan, leaving the College of Lake County struck by shots.
The Waukegan Police Department was on the scene for an unrelated call when they heard several gunshots in downtown Waukegan around 9:30 p.m. on April 14.
911 callers also reported gunshots near 30 North Genesee Street, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon.
Officers arrived and saw multiple vehicles fleeing from the area. They collected over 50 rifle and handgun shell casings.
Cannon said two windows of the glass bridge connecting the College of Lake County buildings at Genesee Street and Madison Street were struck by gunfire, resulting in approximately $30,000 in damage.
Detectives recovered surveillance video of a Dodge Durango parking near the parking garage. A Jeep passed by the Dodge and parked in front of the courthouse.
Two gunmen, one armed with a rifle and another with a handgun, exited the Jeep, Cannon said.
The gunmen opened fire from the intersection of County Street and Madison Street on the occupants of the Dodge.
Cannon said two people from the Dodge, who were in the intersection of Madison Street and Genesee Street, returned fire with handguns, leading to a shootout.
Detectives identified both suspects from the Dodge. One of the two nearly accidentally shot the other during the shootout, Cannon said.
The subjects entered back into their vehicles and fled the area.
Detectives reported there were lots of people in downtown Waukegan at the time of the shooting.
The Waukegan Police Department’s Community Crimes Division (CCD), which investigates violent crimes, handled the investigation.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said the investigation led CCD detectives to a residence at the Barwell Manor Apartments in the 500 block of South Genesee Street.
Detectives stopped a person of interest at the apartment complex, identified as Diamond Loggins, 27, of Waukegan.
Loggins had a loaded handgun in her possession, Chastain said. A search warrant was later executed on her apartment and eight firearms were recovered.
Five assault rifles, one of which was fully automatic, and three handguns, one of which was also converted to fully automatic, were recovered from the apartment.
The Waukegan Police Department arrested Loggins along with three others in connection with the shooting — Justin Thomas, 32, of Waukegan; Saladine McKinney, 32, of Waukegan; and Jayvion Scott, 25, of Waukegan.
Thomas was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1000 feet of a school, felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, criminal damage to property and reckless discharge of a firearm.
McKinney was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1000 feet of a school, armed habitual criminal, felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Scott was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1000 feet of a school.
Loggins was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. All of the suspects except Loggins were ordered detained in the Lake County Jail pending trial.