Authorities say an armed man attacked another person and then fired several shots at two people, hitting a vehicle, in front of a busy grocery store in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 7:50 p.m. on December 12 to Tony’s Fresh Market, 1700 North Lewis Avenue, for a report of a shooting.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said a 911 caller reported hearing several shots and believed they were coming from inside the store.
One of the victims ran from the grocery store and retreated to the AutoZone store across the street for help.
The manager of the AutoZone said he heard four to five shots and saw the person running to the AutoZone, which prompted the staff to flee the store because they were unsure at first whether he was the gunman or not.
Vukovich said the victim was with one of his friends when the suspect, identified as Trequan M. Nickerson, 25, of Zion, entered Tony’s Fresh Market and began striking him.
The friend intervened and tried to stop Nickerson from attacking the victim, Vukovich said.
Vukovich said the two were able to get away from Nickerson and leave the store but Nickerson chased after the two and pulled a gun.
Nickerson fired several shots in the direction of the two victims, who hid behind a vehicle and fled to the AutoZone, Vukovich said.
Officers recovered four shell casings outside Tony’s Fresh Market. A vehicle was struck by gunfire but no injuries were reported.
Vukovich said there were numerous patrons in the store and walking in and out of the store when Nickerson fired the gun.
Detectives recognized Nickerson as the gunman in the surveillance video from prior contacts with him.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Nickerson on January 2 charging him with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, court records show.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Nickerson pending trial after he was taken into custody last week.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing.
The judge said Nickerson poses a danger to not only the two victims but the rest of the community. “It is alleged the defendant fired that gun in a crowded shopping plaza in the evening time in the direction of two individuals.”
Vukovich said Nickerson was on probation at the time of the shooting for attempt unlawful use of a weapon.
Nickerson is scheduled to appear in court again on February 24 for a preliminary hearing.