A jury convicted a man of murder in a 2018 home invasion and triple shooting in Zion that was motivated by one of the victims posting online about winning a large settlement.
The incident happened in the 2800 block of Edina Boulevard in Zion on February 16, 2018.
Police found a man and two women, between the age of 24-43, who were shot inside the house.
One of the women, identified as Kaleah Beville, 36, of Zion, was shot multiple times and was airlifted to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she later died.
The two others were also transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Zion Police Department conducted a large-scale investigation, leading to the arrest of Zavian Wells, 31, of Round Lake Beach, who was involved in the home invasion.
Wells was charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, attempted murder and other charges, and has been held in the Lake County Jail since February 2018.
A jury trial began last week overseen by Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti and ended with the jury convicting Wells on the charges.
Detectives knew Wells was not the only suspect in the incident based on victim and witness statements, police said.
“While detectives had additional suspect names, corroborative evidence with which to prosecute was not easy to obtain,” the Zion Police Department previously said.
“Nevertheless, detectives remained relentless in the pursuit of justice. With significant assistance from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Zion detectives were able to obtain additional key pieces of information to put together support for the indictment of a second offender in this case,” the department said.
In January 2023, a grand jury indicted Tracy Davis, 34, of Minnesota, on several charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder.
A judge issued a warrant for Davis’ arrest and a nationwide search ensued, with detectives locating him residing in a Minneapolis suburb in Minnesota.
Davis was arrested and extradited to the Lake County Jail in February 2023.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg said one of the victims posted on social media about receiving a large amount of money after winning a settlement.
The suspects, including Davis, allegedly attempted to rob the victim on February 15, 2018 but only stole his car and car keys.
The next day, while the victim was at his mother’s Zion home on Edina Boulevard, two men not previously involved in the prior robbery entered the house and looked for cash, Rothenberg said.
As the men were leaving, one of them shot the three victims.
Rothenberg said an incriminating phone call was held between Davis and an inmate in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).
Davis was heard speaking with Wells in the background of the call, which was recorded by IDOC, Rothenberg said.
The Zion Police Department previously indicated that two other subjects besides Davis and Wells were involved in the home invasion.
After Wells was convicted Friday evening, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart called the incident a “brutal attack” and said his Violent Crimes Unit “once again secured justice for our community.”
“Our investigators, victim counselors, trial prosecutors, and administrative staff have worked together to make sure that this exceedingly complicated case was solved; that victims were supported; and that the jury saw the truth of what happened. This offender will face the full consequences of his decisions at sentencing,” Rinehart said.
Wells faces 51 years to life in prison at a future sentencing hearing.
The case against Davis remains active and he is scheduled to go on trial in December.