Valeria Rodriguez, 15, of Round Lake Beach, died Wednesday evening after she was shot while inside her home in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach. | Provided Photo

The mother of a 15-year-old girl described her daughter as “sweet and loving” after she was killed by a stray bullet that entered the family’s Round Lake Beach home.

The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 9:10 p.m. Wednesday to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach.

Multiple 911 callers initially reported hearing some type of explosion sound. It was also reported that a person was injured.

Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers arrived and found a 15-year-old girl who had suffered a gunshot wound inside a residence.

Police from numerous agencies respond to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach to investigate the homicide of a child who was shot while inside her home Wednesday evening. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

There was no evidence of an explosion and the “explosion” sound was the gunshot.

A preliminary investigation shows a person fired a gun outside near the home, Covelli said.

A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered the girl’s home and struck her.

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Covelli said the victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police from numerous agencies respond to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach to investigate the homicide of a child who was shot while inside her home Wednesday evening. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the girl Thursday afternoon as Valeria Rodriguez, 15, of Round Lake Beach.

The family of Rodriguez told WGN that the girl was sitting down to eat dinner when she was shot.

“It does not appear the victim was the intended target of the shooting,” Covelli said.

Yurele Gallardo, Rodriguez’s mother, said that her daughter was “sweet” and “loving.”

“My daughter was a sweet, loving daughter who did not deserve to lose her life in this way,” Gallardo said.

Police from numerous agencies respond to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach to investigate the homicide of a child who was shot while inside her home Wednesday evening. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The mother created a GoFundMe account to help raise funds for her family and said both she and her husband are not working. The account has already raised over $7,500.

Covelli said in an update Friday morning that the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Round Lake Beach police detectives continue to make progress in the homicide investigation.

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Investigators developed several leads and a person of interest was identified.

“Enough evidence was gathered to support a search warrant at the home of the person of interest. During the search warrant, a firearm was located and seized,” Covelli said.

Police from numerous agencies respond to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach to investigate the homicide of a child who was shot while inside her home Wednesday evening. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The suspect remains in custody as investigators continue to conduct follow-up investigation.

The facts and circumstances of the case are expected to be reviewed with the Lake County Stateโ€™s Attorneyโ€™s Office.

A neighbor who spoke to Lake and McHenry County Scanner said they heard an explosion or bang and then the mother of the girl screaming and yelling because her daughter had been injured.

Multiple neighbors described the gunshot as being similar to a firework.

A 15-year-old girl was fatally shot while sitting in her home in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach Wednesday evening. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2024)

Police investigators scoured the area near the home and repeatedly expanded the crime scene during their investigation.

Investigators were seen in Greenview Park, which is directly across the street from the victim’s home.

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Investigators were also seen going door-to-door interviewing neighbors.

An autopsy performed showed Rodriguez died as a result of a gunshot wound to the torso, Banek said.

A bullet hole was visible in the window of a home in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach after a child was fatally shot while inside her home Wednesday evening. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2024)

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Villa Police Department, Round Lake Park Police Department and other agencies were present at the scene.

U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider, whose district includes Round Lake Beach, called the incident “absolutely devastating news.”

“My heart goes out to the victim’s loved ones reeling from this terrible loss. We have got to get this senseless gun violence out of our communities,” Schneider said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Round Lake Beach Police Department at 847-546-2127.