Prosecutors say a North Chicago man fired shots in front of his house while his children were inside the home and then his wife lied to police and said several black males committed the shooting.
Everardo Rangel-Perez, 35, of North Chicago, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and three counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.
The North Chicago Police Department responded around 1:24 a.m. Monday to the 2200 block of Kristan Avenue for a report of shots fired.
Officers spoke with a woman who reported she heard gunshots outside of her residence and witnessed an intoxicated male Hispanic walking southbound on the block, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Hillary Price Cohen.
The woman reported that she did not know the gunman’s name but knew he lived on the street and showed officers a photo of his home.
He was later identified as Rangel-Perez and officers made contact with his wife, who resides with him in the residence, Price Cohen said.
The wife was parked across the street from their residence with her 10-year-old child.
Officers asked the wife if she had witnessed anything and she reported hearing gunshots. She said it was three male black suspects that shot near Kristan Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Price Cohen said.
Officers found shell casings and live ammunition in front of the couple’s home on the sidewalk.
Rangel-Perez’s wife was arrested for driving under the influence and Rangel-Perez exited their home. He matched the description of the shooter, Price Cohen said.
Rangel-Perez appeared intoxicated and told officers he “didn’t do anything” and that “this was his property.”
He was detained and a patdown was conducted. Officers found 9mm rounds in his pocket.
Price Cohen said Rangel-Perez’s children, who are ages 12, 15 and 18, were in the residence. Officers learned Rangel-Perez keeps a firearm in a box in the residence.
A search warrant was obtained and officers found 9mm ammunition in the master bedroom where Rangel-Perez sleeps, Price Cohen said.
A small red box with approximately 24 grams of fentanyl and cocaine, a scale and approximately $500 was found in a closet near the bedroom.
A black Taurus 9mm pistol was found in the basement and additional ammunition was found in the kitchen, Price Cohen said.
A gunshot residue kit was used on Rangel-Perez and Price Cohen said Rangel-Perez was shooting the gun while on a public way.
He has no Firearm Owner’s Identification card and no concealed carry license.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Rangel-Perez pending trial, arguing he poses a real and present threat to the community.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition during a detention hearing.
Rangel-Perez remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 9 for a preliminary hearing.