The coroner has released the identity of a 48-year-old man who died after he was shot multiple times by a gunman who also wounded the victim’s girlfriend in Mundelein Tuesday morning.
The Mundelein Police Department, Mundelein Fire Department and Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday to an apartment building in the 500 block of Deepwoods Drive in Mundelein for a report of a shooting.
911 callers reported two people had been shot and one of them was unresponsive, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek on Wednesday identified one of the victims as Herbert Lomax, 48, of Mundelein.
Police officers arrived and ensured the scene was secure before the fire department moved into the scene.
Officers encountered Lomax and a second victim who were suffering from gunshot wounds at the Diamond Lane Apartments, 555 Deepwoods Drive.
Lomax was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead after arriving, Covelli said.
An adult female was also transported by ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries, but she is expected to survive.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital and conducted an autopsy on Lomax. He died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, Banek said.
Investigators learned that the suspect, Deandre Y. Harris, 21, of South Holland, is in a dating relationship with a 19-year-old woman who lives at the apartment where the shooting occurred.
Harris was visiting his girlfriend when he got into an argument with Lomax, who lives in the same apartment, Covelli said.
Covelli said Harris produced a semi-automatic pistol during the argument and began shooting.
Lomax suffered multiple gunshot wounds and Lomax’s 47-year-old girlfriend, who also resides at the apartment, was struck by the gunfire.
Covelli said the female victim is Harris’ girlfriend’s mother and Lomax is the boyfriend of the female victim.
Responding officers quickly obtained a description of Harris and the vehicle the suspect fled in, Covelli said.
They broadcast the information to law enforcement agencies throughout the region over the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network (ISPERN).
The vehicle, reported to be a Chevrolet Blazer, was spotted in Chicago around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to police radio traffic.
Law enforcement, including a police helicopter, responded to the area of Interstate 94 on the south side of Chicago as the vehicle was on the move.
Illinois State Police and other agencies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of southbound Interstate 94 at 130th Street, police radio traffic indicated.
They ordered both occupants of the car out at gunpoint and took Harris and an adult female into custody. The female had been reportedly driving and Harris was a passenger.
A firearm was located inside the vehicle after it was searched following a search warrant.
Covelli said investigators believe this was a targeted, domestic-related incident.
Harris has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, a Class M felony, and aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, a Class X felony.
Harris was transported to the Lake County Jail on Tuesday and is expected to appear in First Appearance Court on Wednesday morning.
The shooting prompted a massive police response from a slew of departments throughout Lake County.
Officers with rifles were seen setting up a perimeter east of Route 45. Drones were also deployed.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force, which consists of investigators from agencies in the county, was requested to the scene.
Investigators were seen taking photos of the apartment, conducting interviews and entering nearby businesses in the Deep Wood Plaza shopping center to learn more about what happened.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a petition to detain Harris in custody while awaiting trial. He is set to appear for a detention hearing on Thursday afternoon.
Task force investigators and Mundelein police detectives continue to actively investigate the circumstances surrounding the homicide.