Law enforcement has captured the alleged gunman who shot a 30-year-old man, leaving him in critical condition, in Highland Park, which sparked a major police response Monday evening.
The Highland Park Police Department and Highland Park Fire Department responded around 7:35 p.m. Monday to the 300 block of Walker Avenue in Highland Park for a report of a person shot.
Fire department radio traffic indicated a person had been shot and the offender or offenders were fleeing on foot toward the train station.
Police released surveillance photos of a male subject and a female subject who were identified as “persons of interest” and initially considered either witnesses or potential suspects.
Both of them have since been identified by investigators.
They were seen talking with the victim just prior to the shooting, police said.
The City of Highland Park issued an alert asking people to avoid the area due to the large police presence investigating the shooting.
Residents in the immediate vicinity were advised to shelter in place and avoid the area to allow the investigation to proceed, city officials said.
“Residents in the area should not open doors or windows to unexpected visitors, and should call 911 with any concerns,” the alert said.
The injured victim, a 30-year-old man, was rushed to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, which is a Level 1 trauma center.
He was in critical condition but his condition was improving after he was hospitalized.
Police established a perimeter and used canines and drones to assist in the search.
“If you have any information to share, please call 911. This is a rapidly evolving situation,” the alert said.
Numerous police departments were on the scene assisting, including the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
The city announced just after 10:30 p.m. Monday that the shelter-in-place was lifted but police officers were continuing to remain in the area as the investigation continued.
Law enforcement conducted a thorough search and determined the offender fled the area, city officials said.
The City of Highland Park announced Friday that law enforcement partners in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and federal authorities had arrested the suspect in the shooting.
Police identified the suspect, previously identified as the person of interest, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The investigation showed that the suspect was visiting the Highland Park residence and then fled the area after the shooting.
The Highland Park Police Department began working with federal and regional partners to pursue and develop leads on the case.
Law enforcement in Fort Wayne, Indiana, responded to a call for service in their jurisdiction involving the suspect on Friday and identified the Lake County arrest warrant during their investigation, city officials said.
The suspect was taken into custody and will remain held in Indiana on local charges until extradited to Illinois.
“The City greatly appreciates the partnership of law enforcement agencies in responding to and assisting with this investigation, especially Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Lake County (IL) Major Crimes Task Force, and neighboring jurisdictions who assisted on-scene. The City will not provide any further information until the suspect has been brought to Illinois and formally charged,” the city said in a statement.