A 61-year-old man was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries after the sheriff said he was intentionally shot in the face by his son near Gurnee Wednesday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 8:35 p.m. Wednesday to the 34000 block of Route 21 in unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a person shot.
An initial 911 caller reported to dispatchers that a son accidentally shot his father in the face.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene and located a 61-year-old man, who resides at the residence, with a gunshot wound to the face, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The victim was rushed to an area hospital with critical injuries. He is being treated, has been stabilized and is expected to survive, Covelli said.
A preliminary investigation shows the victim was at home in his bedroom using his cell phone.
Covelli said the man’s son, Francis Lodesky, 18, who also lives at the same residence, shot the victim in the face unprovoked.
“Based on information gathered thus far, the shooting appears to be unprovoked and Lodesky had the desire to kill someone,” Covelli said.
The firearm used in the shooting was a .410-gauge revolver, which was loaded with birdshot.
The firearm was recovered at the scene, along with more than 50 additional firearms, which have all been seized as evidence.
Lodesky was arrested by sheriff’s deputies at the scene and transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, both Class X felonies.
Additional charges are possible and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office intends to file a petition to detain Lodesky in custody while awaiting trial.
Lodesky remains held at the Lake County Jail pending a First Appearance Court hearing on Thursday morning.