A gunman fired a shot after a female resident interrupted a burglary in progress at her home in rural Harvard where she found two masked suspects at her home.
John P. Walker, 20, of Belvidere, was charged with armed violence, residential burglary, possession of a weapon with previous forcible felony conviction and theft over $500.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Walker committed a residential burglary around on February 12.
Walker entered a house in the 25700 block of Perkins Road in unincorporated Harvard with the intent to commit a theft, the complaint said.
The complaint said Walker stole property belonging to the husband and wife who live in the residence.
A cigar humidor box, a Dell laptop, the female resident’s passport, and a credit card were stolen.
The complaint said Walker was armed with a gun during the burglary, which was witnessed by one of the residents.
Walker fired the gun during the incident, the complaint said, adding that the firearm was not discharged in the victim’s direction. A 9mm shell casing was recovered.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident around 5:25 p.m. on February 12.
One of the victims called 911 and reported she had just gotten back home when she encountered two male suspects wearing ski masks, with one of them firing a shot.
She reported the suspect vehicle, a Jeep, was fleeing eastbound on Perkins Road.
Walker was charged in May and an arrest warrant was issued for him. He was taken into custody on Wednesday evening.
The second suspect involved has also been charged and he is currently wanted.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Walker pending trial.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petition during an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Thursday after Walker and his counsel stipulated to the petition and did not argue for his release.
Walker remains held in the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 14 for an arraignment hearing.