Prosecutors say a teen “wanted to know what it was like to kill someone” when he shot his father in the face unprovoked, critically injuring him, near Gurnee, while also having a “manifesto” on his phone.
Francis Lodesky, 18, of Gurnee, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, both Class X felonies.
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.
Covelli said the victim was at home in his bedroom using his cell phone when Lodesky, who is the victim’s son, shot the father 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.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said Lodesky told deputies that he wanted to know what it was like to kill someone.
The victim told investigators he was upstairs in his home getting ready for bed and had his phone by his ear when he heard a loud bang.
The man thought his cell phone had exploded but soon realized he had been shot in the head by Lodesky, Theis said.
The victim saw his son was still holding the gun and he tried to get Lodesky to put the gun down but he refused.
Theis said the father gained control of the gun and Lodesky began apologizing. Deputies and detectives observed blood throughout the residence.
The gun used was recovered by the stairs inside the home near a red shell casing.
Lodesky’s mother told deputies that she does not live in the home anymore but that Lodesky has become “more withdrawn,” Theis said.
Lodesky has been making statements to her that he would be better off dead, Theis said. She also reported that she saw notes on her son’s phone that he called his “manifesto.”
The notes did not appear homicidal but reportedly contained rambling thoughts.
Lodesky told deputies he was texting his friends and something in the text reminded him of gloves that he wanted to wear, Theis said.
He began searching for the gloves when he saw the gun, which he referred to as a “Black Ops 2” gun.
Lodesky said that something in his brain told him to grab the gun, according to Theis.
Theis said Lodesky put on the gloves, grabbed the gun, loaded it and then went upstairs, where he saw his father sitting on the bed with his back to him and shot him.
Lodesky said his actions were the result of teasing his friends had done to him over the years and because of the negative things his dad had called him, Theis said.
The firearm used in the shooting was a .410-gauge revolver, which was loaded with birdshot.
More than 50 additional firearms were also located in the home and have been seized as evidence, Covelli said. The father has a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
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 filed a petition to detain Lodesky in custody while awaiting trial.
Lodesky appeared for a detention hearing on Thursday afternoon where Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition after agreeing with prosecutors that the man poses a danger to the community.
Lodesky is scheduled to appear in court again on July 2 for a preliminary hearing.