Charges have been filed against an alleged gunman who shot and seriously wounded his girlfriend’s brother during an argument at a gas station in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 9 p.m. Wednesday to the BP gas station at Grand Avenue and Jackson Street for a report of shots fired.
Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said several 911 calls were received about the shooting.
The callers reported that two people were fighting when shots were fired and someone was struck by the gunfire.
Officers arrived and did not find anyone shot at the scene but were soon notified by Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan that a person shot had arrived at the hospital.
Video footage was obtained from the gas station and showed a van pull up to a gas pump, Cannon said.
A woman was driving the van and Kartell M. Albea, 26, of Zion, was in the front passenger seat.
The victim, a male in his 30s, was in the rear passenger seat. Albea was seen getting out of the van while appearing irate with the victim, Cannon said.
The victim also exited the vehicle and the two began arguing before a physical fight ensued.
Cannon said Albea was seen returning to the van and grabbing a long silver object with a barrel that appeared to be a firearm.
The woman exited the car and dropped to the ground while the victim began running.
Albea was briefly seen speaking to the woman before he fled the scene on foot and the victim returned to the van while hunched over and clutching his stomach, Cannon said.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said the victim was shot twice and later stabilized in the hospital.
The woman initially told officers at the hospital that she and her brother had been robbed but then admitted to lying, Cannon said.
She told officers had been dating Albea for a couple of months.
Investigators learned the argument began after Albea called his girlfriend a “b–ch” and her brother, the victim, did not like it and confronted Albea.
Two shots were fired in the shooting and both struck the victim. Cannon said the victim underwent emergency surgery and was in the intensive care unit.
Albea, a convicted felon, was located three blocks away from the scene by a police detective as the suspect walked on Lynn Terrace from Hyde Park Avenue.
He fled from officers and a 10-15 minute foot chase ensued before he was taken into custody, Cannon said.
Albea’s pants were covered in blood and he was intoxicated, resulting in detectives waiting until the following morning to interview him, at which time he said he had no recollection of what occurred.
Albea was charged with aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a weapon, three counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and two counts of obstructing a peace officer.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Albea pending trial, calling him a real and present threat to the safety of others.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing.
Albea remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on April 29 for a preliminary hearing.