Attempted murder charges have been filed after prosecutors say a gunman opened fire on his ex-girlfriend, leaving cars and a home shot up, in broad daylight in Round Lake Beach Sunday.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffery Facklam said the Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 11:46 a.m. Sunday to a call of shots fired.
Officers recovered seven spent shell casings in the intersection of Shorewood Drive and East End Avenue.
Officers found several parked cars and a residence that had been struck by gunfire.
Facklam said surveillance video captured a black SUV turning and going just out of frame.
A lighter-colored sedan was traveling in the opposite direction and also turned at the intersection.
Gunshots were heard on the video as the sedan was driving up the street.
The parked cars and the residence struck by gunfire were in the direction that the sedan was driving, Facklam said.
A witness told investigators that he saw a dark colored SUV stop in the street and the driver got out and began shooting.
The black SUV was identified as the suspect vehicle based on the recovered shell casings and the witness identifying it as the vehicle the gunman was in.
Facklam said investigators interviewed the occupant of the light-colored sedan in the video and she reported that she and her friends were driving when they passed her ex-boyfriend, identified as 33-year-old Christian M. Romero-Nuno.
The victim heard “firework sounds” after passing Romero-Nuno’s vehicle and saw him standing in the road holding a gun, Facklam said.
Police determined Romero-Nuno owned a black Jeep SUV that matched the description of the SUV seen in the video.
A search warrant was executed at Romero-Nuno’s residence on Thursday and they recovered a 9mm handgun and multiple magazines.
Investigators learned that Romero-Nuno and the victim’s relationship ended several months ago. Facklam said Romero-Nuno became angry at the victim because she was talking to other people.
“The defendant had a chance encounter with the victim where they just happened to see each other while driving. The defendant immediately stopped his car and fired 7 shots in the direction of the victim,” Facklam said.
Romero-Nuno was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and felon in possession of a weapon enhanced.
The victim also told police that Romero-Nuno has recently driven past her home and has threatened her.
Romero-Nuno has a significant criminal history with prior felony convictions for aggravated discharge of a firearm, robbery, burglary and criminal damage to property.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Romero-Nuno, who was arrested on Thursday, pending his trial.
“There is no condition or combination of conditions that this court can set that will ensure the safety of the victim or the community. The defendant continues to violate the law and possess firearms, despite being a repeat felony offender and the defendant should be detained,” Facklam said.
Romero-Nuno remains held in the Lake County Jail and was scheduled to appear Friday afternoon for a detention hearing.