Prosecutors say a man, who has gang ties and is on probation for machine gun possession, was intoxicated when he accidentally shot his 14-year-old sister with a machine gun in North Chicago, requiring her to undergo surgery.
Eddie Guzman-Alvarado, 18, of North Chicago, was charged with armed violence, possession of a machine gun, reckless discharge of a firearm, manufacturing or delivery of 1-15 grams of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance.
The North Chicago Police Department and North Chicago Fire Department responded around 5:14 p.m. Sunday to the 2400 block of Arrington Way in North Chicago for a report of a shooting.
Officers arrived and located a 14-year-old girl who had been shot, according to North Chicago Assistant Police Chief Gary Lunn.
The victim was suffering from a single gunshot wound to her arm.
Lunn said the girl was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she was stable.
Officers investigated and learned the victim’s brother, identified as Guzman-Alvarado, had accidentally shot her, Lunn said.
The incident occurred inside the home.
Investigators are unsure what Guzman-Alvarado was doing with the gun prior to it discharging, Lunn said.
Guzman-Alvarado was taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Guzman-Alvarado pending trial, arguing he poses a real and present danger to others.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Moy said Guzman-Alvarado was observed to be heavily intoxicated when he shot his sister in the arm.
Guzman-Alvarado, who is on probation for a firearms offense, was also found in possession of 14 grams of cocaine, Moy said. Officers found the drugs on his person and also found almost $2,000 in cash.
Moy said Guzman-Alvarado is affiliated with the Latin Kings gang and there is a caution for him being “armed and dangerous,” according to a pre-trial services assessment.
“His reckless behavior, your honor, resulted in his 14-year-old sister needing surgery to reconstruct… her elbow,” the prosecutor said, arguing there are no conditions of release that could mitigate the threat the man poses.
A detention hearing was held on Wednesday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition to detain.
The judge said that Guzman-Alvarado poses a danger to the public, as well as himself, and noted he was on probation for the same offense, possession of a machine gun.
Guzman-Alvarado remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 15 for a preliminary hearing.