A judge has denied pre-trial release to a convicted felon who allegedly tried shooting security guards at Port of Blarney near Antioch 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 felon in possession of a firearm, three counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and disorderly conduct.
Roddy was charged with misdemeanor battery. Roddy was processed and released with a court date of September 4.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Owens pending trial.
Owens appeared in First Appearance Court on Saturday morning and Lake County Judge Patricia Cornell scheduled a detention hearing for Monday afternoon.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd said Owens has numerous weapons offenses in his criminal background.
Shepherd argued for Owens’ detainment, saying that it would be a “much different conversation today” if the gun had actually fired.
A public defender for Owens said his client denies being involved in the incident.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted the state’s petition following the Monday court hearing after agreeing with prosecutors that he poses a threat to the safety of the community.
The judge also questioned why Owens was not charged by the state’s attorney’s office with attempted murder based on the facts of the case.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 18 in the case.