A self-admitted gunman was arrested and six guns were recovered after a shootout where nearly 30 rounds were fired, leaving a house shot up, in North Chicago.
Tommy J. Montgomery Johnson, 19, of North Chicago, was charged with possession of a firearm not eligible, four counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm without a serial number and obstructing justice.
The North Chicago Police Department responded around 11:30 p.m. on February 11 to the area of 17th Street and Park Avenue for numerous 911 calls of shots fired and a ShotSpotter alert.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said officers recovered 29 spent shell casings in the yard of a home in the 1700 block of Park Avenue.
15 bullet holes were found to have struck the residence.
Officers knocked on the door and Montgomery Johnson answered the door but only allowed officers to enter the living room because he did not want police to look around further.
An investigator noticed an abrasion to Montgomery Johnson’s hand and he claimed it was a carpet burn from jumping to the floor when the shooting occurred.
Video surveillance showed Montgomery Johnson approximately 30 minutes prior walking around in the alley while masked, McConnell said.
Montgomery Johnson, who was wearing the same clothing as in the video, gave officers a false identity.
McConnell said Montgomery Johnson allowed officers to do a walkthrough of the apartment but refused to allow them to enter his bedroom.
The man’s mother arrived home and she was shocked by the situation. She allowed officers to conduct a full search of the apartment.
Officers located six subjects — three juveniles and three adults — hiding in a walk-in closet in Montgomery Johnson’s bedroom, McConnell said.
A bag containing six firearms, including two ghost guns, were recovered near where the subjects were hiding.
McConnell said investigators believed Montgomery Johnson received the burn from one of the two ghost guns, which was broken.
Montgomery Johnson initially told officers he was not involved in the shootout but then later said he was shot at and ran into his home but did not shoot back.
Montgomery Johnson provided a different version of events during several subsequent statements to police, McConnell said.
He eventually told investigators he was hanging out at his house with his friends while they played with the guns and contacted members of a rival gang.
The group told the rival gang where they were and to “come get them,” McConnell said.
Those people arrived and both groups began exchanging gunfire, with Montgomery Johnson and his friends being overpowered, McConnell said.
Montgomery Johnson admitted to shooting the ghost gun and a second gun. Investigators were unsure which side fired first.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Montgomery Johnson pending trial, calling him a real and present danger to the community.
Attorney Jed Stone, who is representing Montgomery Johnson, argued for his client’s release and said he has no prior arrests and has enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Lake County Judge James Simonian granted the state’s petition. “This was literally a shootout inside a neighborhood… that is a safety threat to this community.”
The judge noted that Montgomery Johnson made statements about his involvement in the shooting and said he does not believe any conditions could mitigate the threat the man poses.
Montgomery Johnson is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday for a preliminary hearing.