Evanston teenager charged in connection with shots fired near ETHS

Julia Jacobs, City Editor

A 16-year-old boy was charged with five felonies Thursday in connection with shots fired the previous day one block from Evanston Township High School, police said.

The Evanston teenager and a Skokie man were arrested Wednesday after police heard gunshots at about 4:15 p.m. near Lake Street and Darrow Avenue. After hearing the shots, officers saw two individuals run into a residence in the 1800 block of Lake Street and then set up a police perimeter around the home.

The individuals were arrested after exiting the home at about 5:40 p.m. Police are unaware of any victims of the shooting but recovered a loaded handgun from inside the home.

The Evanston teenager was charged with felonies for aggravated discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a street gang member, said Evanston police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan. He was also charged with felonies for unlawful possession of a firearm as a minor, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless conduct. The teenager is currently being held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.

The 19-year-old Skokie resident was charged Friday with a misdemeanor for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said. He was also charged with violating a city ordinance for disorderly conduct.

In the continued investigation, police located members from the other group involved in the incident, but the individuals declined involvement in criminal proceedings.

Police also recovered another handgun in the rear of an address in the 1000 block of Dobson Street that will be sent to the crime lab for analysis.

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This story was updated with information from the continued police investigation, including charges for the adult man.

Correction: Due to incorrect information from a source, a previous version of this article misrepresented where the adult who was arrested lives. The 19-year-old man is a Skokie resident.