An alleged gunman has been arrested and charged with robbing and shooting a 22-year-old man who was meeting up with a group to purchase vape pens in a Zion parking lot.
The Zion Police Department and Zion Fire and Rescue Department responded around 7:19 p.m. on March 6 to the Westside Plaza shopping center, 4200 Route 173, for a report of a person shot.
Zion Police Department Detective Lt. Paul D. Kehrli said officers found a 22-year-old unincorporated Zion man who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the leg.
Paramedics transported the man to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Portions of Route 173 and Lorelei Drive were temporarily closed while police searched for evidence, Kehrli said.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred in the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex.
Video from the complex showed that the victim was meeting with several individuals when the shooting occurred.
The subjects fled and were being sought for questioning, Kehrli said at the time.
Court records show a sealed arrest warrant was obtained on April 21 for Aamari T. Gray, 19, charging him with aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, a Class X felony, and robbery, a Class 2 felony, in connection with the incident.
Gray was taken into custody Monday, court records show.
A petition to detain filed by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said the Zion Police Department was called to a report of a person shot in his vehicle on March 6.
Upon arrival, officers noticed the victim was bleeding profusely from his leg. court records show. He was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center.
Through interviews and review of surveillance videos, officers learned that Gray and another person met the victim in the parking lot.
Gray and a second individual entered the victim’s vehicle, and court records show “significant activity” took place that resembled a struggle or a fight inside the victim’s car.
The defendant and the second person exited the victim’s car and went back to their car carrying a box-type object in their hand, court records show.
The victim got out of his vehicle and ran towards Gray’s car when one of the offenders pointed a gun out of the car window and shot the victim.
The victim fell, court records show, but was able to hop back to his car and drive off. He stopped down the street due to his injuries, and 911 was called.
Gray’s vehicle was identified through a license plate reader in Kenosha, Wisconsin, court records show.
That car had blood on the outside driver’s side door and police recovered a .40 caliber spent cartridge casing, court records show.
In addition, the victim identified Gray and the second person, saying Gray and the other person robbed him of vape pens before the victim was transported to the hospital.
The victim also told police that Gray and the other subject entered his car and began punching him, court records show. The victim was prevented from getting out of the car by Gray and the other individual.
Gray is being held in the Lake County Jail.