Prosecutors say a man opened fire on a house in Waukegan on two occasions, including one of which his own child was inside the home sleeping and a bullet struck the child’s bedroom.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 4 a.m. on December 7 to the 1800 block of Delaware Road for a report of shots fired.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said officers spoke with the owner of the home, who reported everyone was in their own rooms when approximately 5-6 shots were fired.
Officers spoke with a woman who told officers she believed her ex-boyfriend, Dino D. Davis, 31, of Waukegan, may have been the gunman.
She said she had been broken up with Davis for a couple of years but he was upset that she had taken him to court to gain custody of their child, Theis said.
The woman said that Davis was the suspect in a criminal damage to property incident that occurred in Vernon Hills where he scratched a vulgar remark on the hood of the victim’s car and slashed all four tires.
Davis was charged in that incident. The victim reported that Davis had been threatening her and stating he was going to “end her,” Theis said.
The outside of the residence was struck 5-6 times and an officer located two bullet holes inside the home.
The woman told officers that Davis drives a black Chevrolet Equinox with Wisconsin license plates, Theis said.
A search of the Flock license plate reader camera system showed a vehicle that matched the description.
The vehicle was detected on camera two blocks away from the woman’s house approximately 20 minutes prior to the shooting. The car was registered to a female who was associated with Davis.
Just over two weeks later, the Waukegan Police Department responded around 12:47 a.m. on December 24 to the same home on Delaware Road for a report of shots fired.
Theis said officers met with the same victim who reported her parents and son were in their rooms sleeping when she heard 5-6 shots being fired.
She said she believed it was Davis again. The residence was struck approximately five times on the south side of the home.
Five bullet holes were found inside the home as well as two projectiles, Theis said. One of the projectiles was in the child’s bedroom and one was in the hallway just outside the child’s room.
Surveillance video captured the shooting and showed a subject standing by a wooded area on the south side of the residence.
Multiple muzzle flashes were seen going toward the house and a dark-colored SUV was seen leaving the school parking lot across the street, Theis said.
The Waukegan Police Department observed the suspect Chevrolet Equinox driving past the victim’s house on December 29 and the Pleasant Prairie Police Department stopped the vehicle shortly after and Davis was driving.
The female victim saw the Chevrolet Equinox following her from her residence on January 2 and she obtained an emergency order of protection the following day against Davis.
Davis was later charged with violating an order of protection for violating the order on the same day he was served, Theis said.
Officers found a text message between the female who is the registered owner of the Chevrolet and Davis.
Theis said the December 24 text message showed the woman was upset with Davis because he did not come to a Christmas celebration she had planned and instead he, “Wanna drive my car all f—ed up with my gun and bullets allover.”
Officers interviewed her on January 29 and she reported she hid the firearm because she did not want Davis to take it anymore, Theis said.
A crime lab analysis showed the 12 shell casings recovered from the shooting scenes matched the woman’s firearm and the projectiles from inside the victim’s residence matched the firearm.
Davis was charged last month with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied building, a Class 1 felony.
“This defendant shot at Nikole’s house twice in the early morning hours when he knew the family would be home,” Theis said.
The prosecutor said Davis’ own child was in the house at the time of both shootings and the child’s bedroom had a bullet hole from the December 24 shooting.
“This defendant caused significant damage to Nikole’s vehicle and has been following her around. This defendant is a significant threat to the victim,” Theis said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Davis following his arrest and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing.
Davis has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday for a status hearing.