Prosecutors say a gang member approached a random family, who had two young children, on a residential street in Waukegan and pointed a gun at the father after asking if he was in a gang.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 10:25 p.m. on October 4 to Wadsworth Avenue on the city’s south side for a report of a person with a gun.
The 911 call came from a family of four — a mother, a father and two daughters younger than 13, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Shanley-Roberts.
They reported they were near where the father lives when a man on a bike rode up to them and pointed a handgun at the father’s chest.
Shanley-Roberts said the suspect asked the father if he was in a gang, asked if he was a Latin King and threw Latin King signs at the father, who told the suspect he was not a gang member.
The family got in their car and fled the area. Responding officers observed a man matching the description provided by the family about a block east of the incident.
They attempted to stop him, identified as Jose G. Nino, 33, of Waukegan, but he rode his bike behind a home in the 900 block of Wadsworth Avenue, Shanley-Roberts said.
A foot pursuit ensued when Nino ditched his bike. Officers caught up to him and attempted to take him into custody.
Shanley-Roberts said Nino elbowed an officer before being placed into handcuffs, at which time he spat in another officer’s face. The fire department responded and flushed the officer’s eyes.
A Ring camera from the backyard of a home captured Nino fleeing from officers but he realizes he is unable to get away.
Nino was “clearly” seen on video taking a handgun out of his waistband, which he tossed toward some bushes, Shanley-Roberts said.
He then began walking towards officers and resisting arrest. Officers located the gun, a Glock 21, which was loaded with a round in the chamber and several rounds in the magazine.
Shanley-Roberts said Nino told officers he was a Latin King and threw corresponding gang signs at the officers, who knew Nino to be a documented gang member.
The family involved positively identified Nino as the person who pointed a gun at them.
Other residents in the 900 block of Wadsworth Avenue had also reported earlier in the evening that a male Hispanic rode up on a bike and pointed a gun at them, Shanley-Roberts said.
Nino was charged with possession of a weapon with a previous conviction for a forcible felony, possession of a firearm by a gang member, four counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon enhanced, two counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer and resisting a peace officer causing injury.
Nino is a convicted felon and was previously convicted in a 2024 Lake County case for aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, for which he received a 20-month sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Nino in the Lake County Jail pending trial and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing.
Nino has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to appear in court again on December 10 for a case management conference.