The sheriff says a man, who was kicked out of Port of Blarney bar near Antioch, tried shooting the bar’s security guards but was unsuccessful after the gun malfunctioned.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:30 p.m. Friday to Port of Blarney, 27843 West Grass Lake Road in unincorporated Antioch, for a report of a man with a gun.
Lake County sheriff’s dispatchers were able to obtain a detailed description of two offenders from the 911 caller and relayed the information to responding deputies.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies arrived and were quickly able to locate and detain the two offenders.
A preliminary investigation shows Ronald X. Owens, Jr, 37, of Lisle, and Edwin Roddy, 42, of Waukegan, were removed from the bar earlier by security for being disruptive.
Owens and Roddy walked to a car in the parking lot and returned to confront security, Covelli said.
Owens, who retrieved a firearm, pointed the gun at the security guards and pulled the trigger several times, Covelli said.
The firearm malfunctioned and did not fire.
The two went back to a vehicle and met with others they initially arrived with. Covelli said it is believed Owens put the gun back in the car and the others left in the car.
Owens and Roddy returned to the bar again and attempted to get inside but were stopped again by security.
Security was able to get patrons in the bar and they barricaded the doors, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis.
Covelli said Roddy punched one of the security guards. Both were quickly located by sheriff’s deputies and arrested.
Lewis said Owens is not legally allowed to possess weapons. He is a convicted felon for a Michigan case where he fired a gun at a building.
Owens was charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and multiple counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. Roddy was charged with misdemeanor battery.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Owens pending trial.
He appeared in First Appearance Court on Saturday morning and Lake County Judge Patricia Cornell scheduled a detention hearing for Monday afternoon.
Roddy was processed and released with a court date of September 4.