A judge sentenced a Grayslake man to life in prison on Thursday after he was convicted of stabbing a victim over 40 times in a “heinous, unprovoked” attack where he tried staging the crime scene in Round Lake Beach.

Jesus I. Vargas, 33, of Grayslake, was convicted of first-degree murder following a trial that concluded on March 6.

Lake County Judge Mark Levitt sentenced Vargas on Thursday to natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The sentencing hearing came after a jury trial in March that lasted five days with prosecutors calling more than a dozen witnesses, including law enforcement officers, medical personnel and expert witnesses.

The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District were called around 3 p.m. on February 28, 2022, to the 2000 block of Apache Trail in Round Lake Beach for a report of a stabbing.

Officers found Brian Mahdee, 37, of Round Lake Beach, deceased in the garage of the residence from stab wounds.

The Round Lake Beach Police Department requested the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to assist in the investigation.

Law enforcement testified at trial that Vargas had non-life-threatening wounds to his arm.

An eyewitness told jurors that Vargas inflicted the wounds on himself in an attempt to make it appear that he had acted in self-defense after being attacked by the victim.

The witness also described how Vargas brutally attacked Mahdee while Mahdee was seated and on his phone.

Witnesses testified that Vargas attempted to clean up the scene and asked others present not to call the police.

Investigators testified that Vargas gave several inconsistent statements after his arrest and claimed to police that he was defending himself.

Investigators explained how evidence showed that Vargas attempted to stage the scene to support the self-defense claim.

The state’s attorney’s office said DNA recovered from the weapon was inconsistent with Vargas’s self-defense claim.

Medical personnel determined that Mahdee suffered more than 40 stab wounds throughout his body.

Vargas and Mahdee were believed to be in a romantic relationship, police previously said.

The defense for Vargas called two witnesses after prosecutors rested their case. Vargas was among the two and provided statements, which prosecutors said differed from his prior version of events.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart called the attack “unprovoked” and noted that Vargas began lying and attempting to hide his crime following the murder.

“His guilt was further revealed by his wildly inconsistent trial testimony. Despite these efforts, investigators and prosecutors showed the jury the truth of this heinous attack,” Rinehart said after the trial.

Prosecutors sought the natural life sentence, which the judge imposed during the Thursday sentencing hearing, due to the “brutality” of the murder and Vargas’ extensive criminal history.

The judge also pointed out Vargas’ repeated criminal behavior, stating that he has demonstrated a threat to the community. Vargas will not be eligible for parole.

The sentencing hearing included victim-impact statements from Mahdee’s mother and two cousins.

They each described Mahdee as a gentle, loving and kind person who loved his family.

They spoke about the profound loss they had endured and said that Vargas took away the future they had envisioned with Mahdee when he chose to murder him. They also described the heartbreak they feel from Mahdee’s absence.

“This offender tried to blame the victim for his terrible crime. We believe the court’s sentence correctly takes this into account as well as the future risk that the offender posed. Murder is the most serious of crimes, and offenders should take responsibility rather than blaming the victims,” Rinehart said after the hearing.

“I want to thank the Round Lake Beach Police Department and Lake County Major Crimes Task Force investigators, our internal investigators, the victim support professionals, and the trial prosecutors for securing justice for Brian and his loved ones,” he added.

Vargas was being held in the Lake County Jail on a $3 million bond and Lake County Judge Mark Levitt revoked his bond after the verdict in March.

A driver was able to free himself from a semi-truck that rolled over and spilled gravel, causing a roundabout to be partially shut down near Marengo Friday morning.

The Marengo Fire/Rescue Districts, Union Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Marengo Police Department responded around 6:56 a.m. Friday to the area of Route 20, also known as Grant Highway, and Marengo Road in unincorporated Marengo for a report of a vehicle crash.

Marengo Fire/Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said the incident was initially dispatched as a vehicle crash with entrapment due to a rollover being reported.

Fire crews arrived and found a semi-truck that had rolled over onto its side.

They found that the adult male driver had self-extricated himself from the cab of the truck before they arrived, Vucha said.

The driver was evaluated by paramedics but declined transport to the hospital.

Vucha said the crash resulted in gravel, which was being hauled in a dump trailer, spilling onto the roadway.

A small amount of diesel fuel from the semi-truck also spilled onto the roadway.

Fire officials issued an alert cautioning motorists who were in the area of the roundabout.

The southern portion of the roundabout was shut down temporarily while crews worked to clean the roadway.

The semi-truck and trailer were uprighted and removed from the scene, with crews continuing to work to clean up the spilled debris, Vucha said.

“Thank you for your patience as crews work to safely reopen the intersection,” the fire district said.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the crash. It is unknown if any citations or charges will be issued.

A drug dealer has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the homicide of two McHenry County residents whom he sold drugs to and prosecutors say he also caused two other people’s deaths.

Jarrail Ford-Gresham, 36, of Elgin, was charged in McHenry County in May 2024 with two counts of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony; criminal drug conspiracy, a Class 1 felony; and manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony.

The charges stem from an investigation that began on December 1, 2023, when officers from the Marengo Police Department responded to an apartment in the 600 block of East Grant Highway for a possible overdose.

Officers discovered two residents, a 45-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man, deceased inside the home, police said.

Autopsies determined that both victims died as a result of ingesting fentanyl.

Investigators also located a white powdery substance within the residence that tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, which was in the victims’ systems, prosecutors said.

Detectives worked to determine the source of the deadly narcotics and examined one of the residents’ cellphones.

Text messages showed an arranged drug transaction with an individual identified only as “J.G.”

Investigators learned of similar fatal overdose incidents that had occurred days earlier in Elgin and Palatine, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said information shared between law enforcement agencies led them to identify “J.G.” as Ford-Gresham.

Investigators obtained surveillance footage from a Palatine motel depicting Ford-Gresham, prosecutors said. The location later became the scene of yet another fatal overdose investigation.

Ford-Gresham was eventually arrested and investigators recovered a cellphone from his person.

The phone contained communications with one of the deceased victims discussing drug transactions, prosecutors said.

Investigators used cellphone location data to determine that Ford-Gresham had traveled from Elgin to the Marengo area on November 29, 2023, shortly before the fatal overdoses.

In addition to McHenry County, Ford-Gresham was additionally charged by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office with drug-induced homicide for two other overdose deaths in Palatine and Elgin.

Court records show Ford-Gresham entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.

He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to both counts of drug-induced homicide in McHenry County.

McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis approved the plea and sentenced Ford-Gresham to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for each count, which will be served consecutively for a total of 14 years.

“This case is a heartbreaking reminder that fentanyl continues to devastate families and communities across our county,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.

“Those who distribute these deadly substances must be held accountable when their actions result in the loss of human life. I commend the dedication and cooperation of all law enforcement agencies involved and am proud of the efforts of our office in bringing justice to the victims and their loved ones,” Freese said.

Ford-Gresham will be on 18 months of mandatory supervised release upon his release from prison.

A Cary man ran away on foot and was found hiding under bushes after he fled from a sheriff’s deputy and crashed his motorcycle into an SUV in Harvard, police said.

A McHenry County sheriff’s deputy was on patrol around 12:20 p.m. on June 29 along northbound Route 14 south of Harvard.

The deputy reported an attempted traffic stop on a motorcycle but the driver failed to pull over, according to police radio traffic.

The deputy, moments later, came upon a two-vehicle crash in the area of Route 14 and McKinley Street in Harvard.

The Harvard Police Department and Harvard Fire Protection District were notified and responded.

Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman said his department was not immediately aware of the possible pursuit prior to the crash.

Officers arrived and found a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a Lexus SUV.

Officers were made aware while en route that the driver of the motorcycle had fled the scene on foot, Bauman said.

Police began searching the area and a citizen reported the suspect had hidden under the bushes approximately two to three blocks away.

Bauman said officers were later informed by the sheriff’s office that the motorcycle had fled from a deputy previously but they terminated the pursuit outside of the City of Harvard.

The suspect, identified as Colin N. Kelly, 21, of Cary, was treated by paramedics and transported to Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center in Harvard with minor injuries, Bauman said.

The other driver involved was not injured.

Kelly was charged by Harvard police with failure to remain at the scene of a vehicle crash, disobeying a traffic control signal, improper traffic lane usage, leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to an attended vehicle, driver’s license classification violation and operating an uninsured vehicle.

Kelly was additionally charged by the sheriff’s office with reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, speeding 15-20 mph above limit, violation of driver’s license restriction, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper passing on left and improper use of a designated lane.

He was cited and released from custody with a future court hearing on July 14.

Investigators have arrested a 74-year-old man after raiding his home in Wadsworth and discovering he allegedly downloaded nearly 200,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including some involving toddlers.

Steven C. Kazmer, 74, of Wadsworth, was charged with eight counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, along with the Woodstock Police Department and the Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Crime Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, recently began an investigation into Kazmer.

The investigation began after the Lake County Cyber Crimes Lab received information that a suspect, later identified as Kazmer, was downloading and sharing explicit sexual abuse files involving children through a peer-to-peer network, prosecutors said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Waukegan Police Department, Illinois Attorney General’s Office and Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office carried out a search warrant at Kazmer’s home in the 4700 block of Pebble Beach Drive in Wadsworth on Wednesday.

Electronic storage detection canines Enzo and Grip also assisted in the search.

Enzo and Grip helped locate several electronic devices and Kazmer was taken into custody.

It was determined that Kazmer downloaded nearly 200,000 files of child sexual abuse material over 18 months, prosecutors said.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Digital Forensics Team recovered numerous child sexual abuse material files that were believed to have been deleted, prosecutors said.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said Kazmer admitted that he was sharing the material online and that he “cleaned his computer.”

“There is no higher priority in this office than finding, prosecuting, and detaining those who exploit and hurt children. Our Cybercrimes Unit continues to be a leader in Northern Illinois in helping us accomplish this mission,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.

“Investigator Rob Beach and ESDK9 Grip are critical components of dozens of investigations right now. We will find these offenders, and they will be held accountable,” Rinehart said.

Kazmer appeared in First Appearance Court on Thursday morning and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him while he awaits trial.

A detention hearing was held on Thursday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition to detain.

The judge noted the extremely high number of files recovered, along with the fact that some of the files depicted children as younger as toddlers.

Katris argued during the hearing that Kazmer is dangerous despite his lack of a criminal history. The prosecutor argued that he shows a high level of sophistication when it comes to the internet and electronic devices.

“Ending cash bail allows us to detain offenders like this. Under the cash system, more than 70% of these types of offenders were using their wealth to obtain release while their case was pending,” Rinehart said after the detention hearing.

“Now, because of this reform under the SAFE-T Act, we seek to detain all of them, and judges usually agree. It’s a system that helps protect our children,” Rinehart said.

Kazmer is scheduled to appear in court again on July 14 for a status of attorney hearing and then on August 5 for a preliminary hearing.

A mother, along with her boyfriend, came home to find her daughter’s boyfriend brandishing a gun in their Mundelein apartment and prosecutors say he soon after opened fire on them, killing the man and seriously injuring the woman.

Deandre Y. Harris, 21, of South Holland, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, a Class M felony, and one count of aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, a Class X felony.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam said Harris was at his 19-year-old girlfriend’s residence at the Diamond Lane Apartments, 555 Deepwoods Drive in Mundelein, on Tuesday morning.

Harris’ girlfriend’s mother and the mother’s boyfriend, who both also live at the apartment, had left the residence but returned later in the morning.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the mother’s boyfriend as Herbert Lomax, 48, of Mundelein.

They entered the apartment to find Harris holding two guns and pointing them, Facklam said.

The woman’s daughter was standing near Harris trying to calm him down.

The mother heard one or two gunshots and fell to the floor. She saw Lomax on the floor near the kitchen, Facklam said.

Harris moved towards the front door and she then heard two or three more gunshots, Facklam said. One of the shots struck her in the leg.

The Mundelein Police Department, Mundelein Fire Department and Countryside Fire Protection District responded to the scene around 11:40 a.m. after receiving 911 calls for the shooting.

Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said 911 callers reported two people had been shot and one of them was unresponsive.

Harris and the daughter fled the apartment in her car. Officers broadcast the information to law enforcement agencies throughout the region over the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network (ISPERN) and other police systems.

Officers arrived and found Lomax suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. They also found his 47-year-old girlfriend seriously injured, Covelli said.

Lomax was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead after arriving, Covelli said.

The adult female victim was also transported by ambulance to an area hospital and is expected to survive.

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.

Harris told police there were guns in the car and officers searched the vehicle pursuant to a search warrant and recovered one firearm and one BB gun, Facklam said.

The female victim’s daughter told police that there had been ongoing issues between her and her mother’s boyfriend.

She asked Harris the day before to stay at her house overnight, which he did.

They woke up and her mother and Lomax were gone but came back later that morning, Facklam said.

Facklam said Harris confronted her mother’s boyfriend about an issue between her and Lomax, at which time the two began arguing and Harris pulled out a gun.

Harris’ girlfriend told police that she knows Harris usually carries a gun.

The daughter began panicking and heard several more shots, Facklam said. She fled the apartment with Harris to drive him back to his house in South Holland and told investigators she did not know what else to do.

Harris was also interviewed and told investigators he confronted Lomax over an issue with his girlfriend, Facklam said.

He said Lomax walked aggressively towards him so he pulled out his gun and shot him and then shot him again after he did not immediately fall, Facklam said.

Harris told investigators he then moved towards the front door of the apartment and shot the victim again because he thought Lomax was turning towards him. Five shell casings were recovered.

Harris reported that Lomax was unarmed and did not physically batter him, Facklam said. He also told investigators he did not know how his girlfriend’s mother was shot in the ordeal.

“The defendant initiated an argument with the victim and then pulled out a gun and shot an unarmed person. Despite defendant’s claims of self-defense, it was the defendant who was the aggressor. He started the argument and he is the only one who used or even had a weapon,” Facklam said.

“In fact, the defendant also apparently had a BB gun, a less lethal option, or could have easily just left the apartment. Instead, the defendant fired five shots inside the apartment with two other people present. The defendant showed no regard for their safety – evidenced by one of them being shot in the leg,” Facklam said.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Harris pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community.

“The evidence also shows that this shooting was deliberate. The defendant did not fire multiple shots in short succession. All witnesses describe the defendant firing initial shots and then moving towards the front door. Rather than leaving, the defendant fired more shots with the victim on the ground. This case is one of violence with multiple victims,” Facklam said.

Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition during a detention hearing held on Thursday afternoon.

An attorney for Harris argued for his release and said that the victim in the case had been “predatory” towards Harris’ girlfriend and is bigger in size than Harris, who was protecting his girlfriend by confronting Lomax. The attorney also said that Harris did not intentionally shoot his girlfriend’s mother.

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.

A bookkeeper for the Cary Country Club in Cary has been arrested and charged with stealing over $70,000 in funds from the organization by funneling them into her accounts.

Sara L. Gockley, 49, of Cary, was charged with one count of theft by unauthorized control over $10,000, a Class 2 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Gockley obtained unauthorized control of $70,957.19 in cash belonging to Cary Country Club.

The Cary Country Club was established in the 1920s and is a public golf course facility located at 2400 Grove Lane in unincorporated Cary.

Gockley was employed as a bookkeeper and account manager for the organization, the complaint said.

The complaint said Gockley transferred approximately $42,983.12 in funds through 87 separate Zelle transactions.

She sent the funds from a JPMorgan Chase Bank business checking account owned by the Cary Country Club to a Crystal Lake Bank and Trust account owned by her, the complaint said.

The complaint said Gockley also transferred approximately $27,974.07 through 54 separate electronic payment transactions from the country club’s checking account to a Capital One credit card owned by her.

Gockley’s LinkedIn account says she has been a full-time bookkeeper for Cary Country Club since October 2019.

The case was investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, which obtained charges for Gockley on Wednesday.

Gockley is currently in custody of the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Initial Appearance Court on Thursday afternoon.

Gockley is expected to be released on pre-trial conditions and prosecutors are seeking to prohibit her from having contact with the Cary Country Club and any of its employees.

They are also seeking a judge to order her not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs, submit to random testing and obtain a mental health or gambling addiction evaluation and comply with the recommendations.

No foul play is suspected after a store employee was found dead suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the entrance to Walmart in Lake Zurich Friday evening.

The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department and Lake Zurich Police Department responded around 8:27 p.m. Friday to the Walmart, 820 South Rand Road in Lake Zurich, for a report of a person shot.

911 callers reported the victim was unconscious and not breathing, according to emergency radio traffic.

Lake Zurich Deputy Police Chief Colin Gaffney said it was reported that a male subject was suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Officers arrived and located the victim outside the entrance to the store.

Paramedics arrived and pronounced the male subject dead at the scene, Gaffney said.

Crime scene tape was set up in the area as officers investigated.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified, responded to the scene and began an investigation.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said the victim was a man in his 30s from Island Lake.

The man was a third-shift employee at the Walmart who had just been dropped off for work by a family member, Newton said.

The incident occurred just outside the west entrance/exit to the Walmart while the store was open and people were nearby.

No foul play is suspected and the investigation indicates the wound was self-inflicted.

Anyone who is in crisis or experiencing thoughts of suicide should seek help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 as a free, confidential emotional support line by dialing 988 or 800-273-8255. The hotline can also be reached through text message by texting TALK to 741-741.

A Grayslake grandmother is being laid to rest Thursday after she died months after suffering critical injuries in a head-on crash that seriously injured two others on the border of Kildeer and Lake Zurich.

The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department and Kildeer Police Department responded around 6:15 p.m. on February 20 to the area of Route 22 and Quentin Road in Kildeer for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Fire crews arrived and reported finding a two-vehicle collision with heavy damage and entrapment in the intersection.

Kildeer Chief of Police Steve Balinski said at the time that officers found a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class SUV and a 2025 Toyota Camry sedan.

An investigation showed the Mercedes-Benz was traveling southbound on Quentin Road at Route 22.

The Mercedes-Benz was attempting to make a turn onto eastbound Route 22, Balinski said.

The Toyota was traveling northbound on Quentin Road entering Route 22 when the Mercedes-Benz collided with it.

The driver of the Mercedes-Benz, a 69-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries and was transported by paramedics to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.

She was later released from the hospital after being treated for her injuries, Balinski said.

Balinski said the driver of the Toyota suffered critical injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. She remained hospitalized after the crash due to her extensive injuries.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Joan Smagacz, 73, of Grayslake.

Smagacz died at Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights on June 26, just over four months after the crash.

The medical examiner’s office has not ruled her official cause or manner of death but indicated that it was related to the February vehicle crash.

An obituary for Smagacz said she initially suffered multiple fractures that left her immobile for four months. “She was looking forward to returning home when complications arose.”

The passenger in the Toyota, a 78-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital.

The Kildeer Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) due to the life-threatening injuries that Smagacz suffered.

Balinski said there was no indication of impairment being a factor in the crash based on the preliminary investigation.

The Kildeer Police Department, Lake Zurich Police Department, Hawthorn Woods Police Department and members of MCAT responded to the scene.

The intersection was shut down for approximately three and a half hours. Members of the Citizen Emergency Response Team directed traffic during the time the intersection was closed, Balinski said.

The obituary for Smagacz said she leaves behind family and friends and was a grandmother to a grandson.

Smagacz earned an Associate of Science in Biology and spent 10 years as a medical technologist before working for more than 30 years in healthcare customer service.

She was working as a receptionist at UroPartners in Libertyville at the time of her death.

“She loved baking and cooking for her family and friends and was especially known for her breads, which were often the highlight of holiday celebrations. She also enjoyed watching the Hallmark channel, going to the theater and to movies, and spending time with her grandson,” her obituary said.

A visitation was held on Wednesday evening at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium in Grayslake.

A funeral mass is set to be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Transfiguration Parish in Wauconda followed by a celebration of life. She will be privately buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

No charges or citations have been announced by the police department.

A judge sentenced a convicted felon to eight years in prison after authorities say he brought a gun into the McHenry County Courthouse, without any reason to be at the courthouse, and then ran from officers in Woodstock.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said a person attempted to enter through the west entrance of the Michael J. Sullivan Judicial Center, 2200 North Seminary Avenue in Woodstock, around 3:58 p.m. on July 7, 2025.

Prosecutors said the subject, later identified as Jake A. Baraglia, 34, of Huntley, handed a bag to a court security officer.

The bag was going to be placed into a screening device when the officer saw that the bag held a semi-automatic handgun and a magazine loaded with three bullets.

The court security officer attempted to further examine the bag and Baraglia pushed the officer and grabbed the bag, prosecutors said.

A struggle ensued over the bag, which caused the officer to fall and suffer injuries.

The officer suffered an abrasion and contusion to his left arm as well as a laceration and swelling to the head, according to a criminal complaint.

Baraglia fled on foot and a short foot pursuit took place, the sheriff’s office said. He jumped over a locked secureity gain to gain access to the interior of a neighboring business complex.

Baraglia was apprehended in the courtyard, which was south of the courthouse near the McHenry County Treasurer’s Office.

The weapon was recovered a short time later under a bush, prosecutors said.

“We commend the swift action of our Court Security Officers and thank all who assisted,” the sheriff’s office said.

An ambulance was dispatched to the scene to evaluate Baraglia after he was taken into custody and to transport him to the hospital.

It is unclear why Baraglia was attempting to enter the courthouse. Prosecutors said he did not have any “scheduled business” at the building.

Baraglia was charged with armed violence, felon in possession of a weapon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon enhanced, unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated battery of a government employee.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Baraglia was in possession of an SCCY CPX 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Baraglia is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess weapons.

Court records show Baraglia has 28 different cases in McHenry County since 2018.

Those cases involve felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations and ordinance violations. 11 of the 28 are felony cases, with the most recent ones being for offenses of possession of a controlled substance and resisting a peace officer causing injury.

Baraglia has been held in the McHenry County Jail since his arrest.

Court records show Baraglia entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.

He pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a weapon, a Class 2 felony, and resisting arrest, a Class 4 felony.

McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis on Tuesday approved the plea deal and sentenced Baraglia to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the agreement.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said the courthouse must remain a place where victims, witnesses, jurors, attorneys, judges and members of the public can “conduct the business of justice without fear.”

“The professionalism, training, and quick response of our court security officers prevented a dangerous situation from escalating. Their actions demonstrate the critical role courthouse security plays in protecting everyone who enters our judicial system,” Freese said after the sentencing.

ICE agents arrested at least two people in the parking lot of a manufacturing plant in Waukegan Wednesday morning after recently making another arrest at a nearby warehouse.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) said Wednesday afternoon that the Lake County Rapid Response Team confirmed ICE activity in Lake County.

ICE agents “abducted” two people at Thermoflex Corporation, 1514 South Lakeside Drive in Waukegan, on Wednesday morning, the ICIRR said.

Thermoflex manufactures products such as car mats and liners and exterior car trim.

An alert sent to subscribers said agents were possibly still in the area and warned people to be aware.

The arrests, which occurred in the parking lot, come less than two months after federal agents arrested a man on May 13 outside Uline, 2105 South Lakeside Drive in Waukegan, which is down the street from Thermoflex.

He was detained and taken away in a black SUV with no markings.

Agents also arrested people that day in the area of Belvidere Road and Powell Avenue in Waukegan and in the area of Catrachos Restaurant, 330 South Green Bay Road in Waukegan.

“Remember: You have the right to film police activity, the right to remain silent, the right to speak to an attorney, and the right to refuse to sign anything,” ICIRR said.

The organization said anyone who encounters federal agents is reminded to stay calm, remain silent and report the encounter to ICIRR’s Family Support Hotline at 855-435-7693.

People are also recommended to ask, “Am I under arrest?” and “Am I free to go?” if they suspect they might be arrested by ICE, ICIRR said.

In April, federal agents were spotted in Lake Bluff making a possible immigration arrest in the 500 block of Moffet Road, near Center Avenue. At least four federal agents were present and two of them had masks, ICIRR said.

DHS previously said there were several thousand arrests during Operation Midway Blitz, part of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, in the Chicago area last year. It started in September and wound down in November.

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.

A 2.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Lake Michigan east of Lake County Wednesday afternoon, an extremely rare event to happen in the area.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said a 2.9 magnitude earthquake was detected approximately 12 miles east-northeast of Kenilworth around 2:38 p.m. Wednesday.

The quake’s epicenter was offshore of southern Lake County near Highland Park, USGS data shows.

It was recorded at a shallow depth of approximately three miles.

A Lake County resident told Lake and McHenry County Scanner he was driving down Hook Drive in Round Lake Beach around 2:35 p.m. when he heard an unusual rattling sounded from inside his car.

“I remember hearing an unusual rattling sound from the inside of my car and found it was my plastic garage door opener clipped to my sun visor. I thought it was weird because my visor has never rattled like that before,” the man said.

“The road itself was smooth, so I figured it might’ve been my engine rattling. The rattling was very light and just barely noticeable. It lasted about 30 seconds. Later I saw online there was an earthquake around that same time and now it makes sense,” he said.

The USGS is collecting reports from residents who felt the earthquake through its “Did You Feel It” form online.

No damage and no emergency calls have been reported so far.

A 2.9 magnitude earthquake can be felt but only causes minor damage at most, according to the USGS.

Earthquakes are rare in Illinois and only a handful occur a year. They are especially rare in northern Illinois.

A 2.9 magnitude quake was recorded in Lake Michigan near Door County, Wisconsin, in August 2024.

16 residents were left displaced, with one suffering smoke inhalation, after a fire believed to be electrical in nature damaged an apartment building in Winthrop Harbor Tuesday evening.

The Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Winthrop Harbor Fire Department and other area fire departments responded around 8:35 p.m. Tuesday to an apartment building in the 1000 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor for a report of a structure fire.

A resident called 911 after they noticed smoke and heard crackling in the walls.

Firefighters arrived to find light smoke inside the two-story apartment building, Winthrop Harbor Fire Chief Rocco Campanella said.

“Crews quickly determined that a significant fire was burning inside the walls of the building,” Campanella said.

Due to the size and construction of the building, a Working Still Alarm and then a box alarm through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was requested, bringing in additional firefighting resources from departments in Lake County and Kenosha County in Wisconsin.

Firefighters opened walls and ceilings in multiple apartment units to expose and extinguish the hidden fire, Campanella said.

Crews were able to contain the fire to two units and prevent the fire from spreading to the second floor.

Utility crews from North Shore Gas and ComEd responded.

An elderly resident was evaluated by paramedics for smoke inhalation, but they were not transported to the hospital, Campanella said.

No other injuries were reported.

Though only two apartment units sustained fire damage, the entire building was deemed uninhabitable due to safety concerns.

“Because of electrical issues discovered during the incident, the entire building has been declared uninhabitable until qualified electricians and building inspectors determine it is safe for occupancy,” Campanella said.

A total of 16 residents from the building were displaced, and the American Red Cross is working to provide disaster relief.

Fire investigators from multiple departments also responded to the scene.

Campanella credited the 911 caller’s quick report with giving firefighters an edge in stopping the fire from spreading further.

“The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department reminds everyone that working smoke detectors and calling 911 immediately at the first sign of smoke or unusual conditions are essential to protecting lives and limiting property damage,” Campanella said.

“In this incident, the tenant’s quick call after noticing smoke and hearing crackling in the walls helped firefighters stop the fire before it spread further.”

The fire remains under investigation, but authorities believe it was electrical in nature.

A state employee, who was a “cherished” member of Jesse White’s tumbling team, has been identified as the victim who “tragically” died when his motorcycle collided with an SUV in Mundelein Monday.

An autopsy performed Tuesday showed Jeff Williams, 34, of Evanston, died as a result of blunt force injuries as a result of a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

The Mundelein Police Department and Mundelein Fire Department responded around 5:25 p.m. Monday to Route 45 and Route 83 in Mundelein for reports of a vehicle crash with injuries.

Multiple people called 911 to report the crash and that one person, later identified as Williams, was not breathing, according to fire department radio traffic.

Police officers and firefighter/medics arrived to find a Suzuki motorcycle and a Honda Pilot SUV involved in the crash at the entrance and exit of the BP gas station on Route 45 just north of Route 83.

The Suzuki was driven by Williams, who was ejected in the crash, police officials said.

Rescue personnel immediately began lifesaving measures on Williams, according to radio traffic, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A tarp was placed over the man’s body, which was lying in the northbound lanes of Route 45.

Due to the severity of the crash, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County was requested to the scene, police officials said.

All lanes of Route 45 between Route 60 and Route 83 were shut down and surrounded by crime scene tape while MCAT investigators worked the scene.

The Honda sustained damage to its front and rear driver’s side doors, while the motorcycle was totaled.

Parts of the motorcycle and the Honda were left scattered on the roadway.

Investigators were seen entering nearby businesses to gather witness accounts, marking the roadway with spray paint, taking measurements and deploying a drone for aerial photos.

Route 45 was reopened at around 8 p.m., over two and a half hours following the collision.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and took possession of Williams for the autopsy.

Williams worked as an employee with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.

He was also a member of the Jesse White Tumbling Team, which is an acrobatics team created in 1959 to provide a positive alternative for inner-city kids.

Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the tumbling team, said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened by the tragic passing” of Williams.

“Jeff was a cherished member of the Jesse White Tumbling Team and a dedicated employee in the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. He was a kind, hardworking young man who touched many lives and deeply loved his family,” White said.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to Jeff’s family, friends, and all who knew and loved him. He will always be a part of the Jesse White Tumbling Team family, and he will be deeply missed,” he added.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ Office told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Williams was a “valued member” of the team and they were “deeply saddened” by his death.

“Jeff was a dedicated public servant whose kindness, professionalism and commitment to serving the people of Illinois left a lasting impact on our office and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” the secretary of state’s office said.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jeff’s family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered,” they added.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by the Mundelein Police Department and MCAT.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after authorities say he fatally shot his girlfriend’s mother’s boyfriend and also shot his girlfriend’s mother in Mundelein Tuesday.

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.

Police officers arrived and ensured the scene was secure before the fire department moved into the scene.

Officers encountered two victims who were suffering from gunshot wounds at the Diamond Lane Apartments, 555 Deepwoods Drive.

An adult male 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 is in the process of conducting an autopsy on the man, whose identity has not been released.

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 the male victim, a 48-year-old man who lives in the same apartment, Covelli said.

Covelli said Harris produced a semi-automatic pistol during the argument and began shooting.

The male victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds and the victim’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 the male victim 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 intends to file a petition to detain Harris in custody while awaiting trial.

Task force investigators and Mundelein police detectives continue to actively investigate the circumstances surrounding the homicide.

Three people were arrested after a man allegedly hosted an underage drinking party where fireworks reportedly caused a house fire in McHenry, leaving the home significantly damaged.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry Police Department responded around 10:21 p.m. Friday to the 5000 block of Pyndale Drive in McHenry for a report of a structure fire.

McHenry Township Fire Protection District Acting Battalion Chief Chris Gumm said firefighters arrived in four and a half minutes to find smoke showing from a single-family residence.

Firefighters entered the home and quickly located and extinguished the fire within 15 minutes of arrival.

They also conducted searches of the home. All occupants had evacuated prior to the fire department arriving, Gumm said.

An occupant of the home was evaluated at the scene by paramedics and transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry with non-life-threatening injuries.

No firefighters were injured. Gumm said the home sustained significant damage and was deemed uninhabitable.

Police arrested three people as a result of the incident, including Hedgar Gomez-Lopez, 19, of McHenry, according to McHenry Police Department Public Affairs Officer Ashley O’Herron.

Gomez-Lopez lives at the home where the fire occurred. He was charged with contributing to the criminal delinquency of a minor and consumption of liquor by a minor.

He was also issued an adjudication citation for possession of fireworks, O’Herron said.

The two other arrests included someone driving under the influence and a juvenile for obstruction.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Gomez-Lopez aided and encouraged a minor to be delinquent by hosting a party at his home where alcohol was provided to guests who were under 21.

The complaint said the structure fire ensued as a result of fireworks.

O’Herron said it was not known exactly how many people attended the party. She also said the cause of the fire has not been ruled yet.

The Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Nunda, Salvation Army Canteen, Spring Grove, Wauconda, Wonder Lake and Woodstock fire departments assisted at the scene or covered calls for McHenry during the incident.

An initial 911 caller indicated fireworks were involved in the incident, fire officials said, adding that the report cannot be confirmed yet.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the McHenry Township Fire Protection District and the McHenry Police Department.

The coroner has released the identity of a Mundelein man in his 40s who died after an SUV turned in front of his oncoming motorcycle, causing a three-vehicle crash in Mettawa Monday evening.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and Libertyville Fire Department responded around 8:50 p.m. Monday to the area of Route 60 and Saint Mary’s Road in Mettawa for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Initial 911 callers reported a motorcycle-involved crash with the victim not conscious and not breathing, according to fire department radio traffic.

Fire crews arrived and reported CPR was in progress on the unresponsive victim.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified him on Tuesday as Michael Swidrak, 43, of Mundelein.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a three-vehicle crash.

The driver of a 2022 Honda Motorcycle, identified as Swidrak, was unconscious and not breathing.

Covelli said lifesaving efforts were attempted at the scene by first responders but Swidrak was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation shows the Honda motorcycle was traveling westbound on Route 60.

The Honda proceeded through a green light at the intersection with Saint Mary’s Road.

A 2024 Chevrolet Trax, driven by a 55-year-old Waukegan woman, was traveling eastbound on Route 60 and made a left turn onto northbound Saint Mary’s Road in front of the motorcycle, Covelli said.

Swidrak was unable to avoid the collision and struck the passenger side of the Chevrolet.

The collision caused Swidrak to be ejected from the motorcycle.

The motorcycle then struck a Hyundai SUV, which was facing southbound on Saint Mary’s Road, Covelli said. None of the three occupants in the Hyundai were injured.

The driver of the Chevrolet suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Lake Forest. She is cooperating with the investigation, Covelli said.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and an autopsy was performed on Swidrak on Tuesday.

It confirmed he died as a result of blunt force injuries from the crash, Banek said.

The intersection of Route 60 and Saint Mary’s Road was completely shut down for several hours.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.

A Deerfield mother of three died after she was hit by a vehicle whose driver says he did not see her in the crosswalk in downtown Lake Forest, with officials calling it a “tragic incident.”

The Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department responded around 12:50 p.m. on June 27 to Oakwood Avenue and Deerpath Road for a report of a vehicle and pedestrian crash.

Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Kevin Zelk said a preliminary investigation showed a woman was walking in the marked crosswalk.

She was crossing Oakwood Avenue just north of Deerpath Road when she was struck by an SUV traveling northbound.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton identified her as Roberta Seedman, 68, of Deerfield.

The driver, a 75-year-old Riverwoods man, told investigators he was turning left onto northbound Oakwood Avenue and he did not see Seedman in the crosswalk before the collision occurred, Zelk said.

Witnesses reported that Seedman fell onto the roadway following the collision and suffered serious injuries, Zelk said.

The Lake Forest Fire Department transported Seedman to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

Lake Forest Fire Chief Andy Rick said that Seedman suffered significant trauma after striking her head on the pavement, despite limited visible external injuries.

“Head injuries can worsen rapidly and become life-threatening. This tragic incident is a reminder of the importance of attentive driving and immediate medical evaluation following a head injury,” Rick said.

Seedman was pronounced dead at the hospital on Thursday and Newton said she is believed to have suffered complications from the head injury sustained in the crash.

An obituary for Seedman said she was a “beloved wife” for 37 years and “loving mother” to three children. A funeral service was held on Monday.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office is assisting the Lake Forest Police Department with the ongoing investigation.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators, Zelk said.

There was no indication that alcohol, drugs or a medical emergency contributed to the crash.

“This is a heartbreaking incident, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said.

“The Lake Forest Police Department reminds motorists and pedestrians to remain alert, particularly in areas with significant pedestrian activity,” Burke said.

Police say drivers should be prepared to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and pedestrians should remain aware of surrounding traffic when crossing roadways.

The investigation remains ongoing and no citations or charges have been announced yet.

Authorities say a gunman opened fire and shot two victims, leaving a man dead and a woman seriously injured, at an apartment building 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.

Police officers arrived and ensured the scene was secure before the fire department moved into the scene.

Officers encountered two victims who were suffering from gunshot wounds at the Diamond Lane Apartments, 555 Deepwoods Drive.

An adult male 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 is in the process of conducting an autopsy on the man, whose identity has not been released.

Responding officers quickly obtained a description of the suspect 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 an adult male and an adult female into custody. The female had been driving, but the male was reportedly the subject of interest in the shooting.

Covelli said investigators believe this was a targeted, domestic-related incident based on the preliminary information available.

No charges have been announced yet.

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.

Task force investigators and Mundelein police detectives continue to actively investigate the circumstances surrounding the homicide.

An 18-year-old man from Spring Grove has died in the hospital after he reportedly drove over 100 mph and smashed into an SUV, causing a fiery crash in downtown Richmond Sunday evening.

A Richmond police officer was conducting an unrelated traffic stop when he saw a silver sedan traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Route 173 in the oncoming lane of traffic around 7:37 p.m. Sunday, Richmond Police Chief Ciro Cetrangolo said.

According to police radio traffic and witnesses, the Toyota was driving at around 100 mph. The speed limit for that stretch of Route 173 is 35 mph.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the driver of the Toyota as John Ethan Regan-Langrick, 18, of Spring Grove.

“Shortly thereafter, the officer came upon a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 173 and Route 12,” Cetrangolo said.

The crash involved the sedan, a silver 2010 Toyota Corolla, that was seen driving recklessly moments earlier.

An initial investigation shows Regan-Langrick was driving the Toyota westbound on Route 173 approaching Route 12 at a high rate of speed.

The Toyota entered the intersection and crashed into a white 2021 Nissan Armada, driven by an adult female, that was towing a camper trailer.

The impact caused the camper trailer to separate from its frame and end up on Route 12 south of the intersection.

Both the Toyota and Nissan sustained major damage.

The Richmond police officer who pulled up on the crash immediately requested additional police units and fire/rescue personnel to respond, according to radio traffic.

Regan-Langrick was reportedly unconscious but breathing.

Police officers and McHenry County sheriff’s deputies, along with the Richmond Township Fire Protection District and multiple other area fire departments, rushed to the scene.

Both of the drivers were trapped and were extricated by firefighter-medics.

There were no other occupants in either vehicle.

LifeNet 3-1, a medical helicopter based out of McHenry, was requested to land at the Richmond Fire Station located at 5601 Hunter Drive and meet firefighter/medics.

The woman in the Nissan was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital in stable condition.

Regan-Langrick was transported briefly by ambulance to the fire station, where he was then transferred to the flight crew and flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, a Level 1 trauma center.

Regan-Langrick was in critical condition at the time of transport, fire officials said.

Banek announced Tuesday that Regan-Langrick, who was in the intensive care unit at Condell, had died on Monday evening from complications of blunt force injuries suffered in the collision.

“Preliminary findings indicate that vehicle speed appears to be a contributing factor in the crash,” Cetrangolo said.

The crash left a large debris field on Route 173.

A business on the corner, Value Discount Flooring, was damaged, along with a nearby utility pole.

Due to the severity of the crash, the McHenry County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) – composed of investigators from the Cary, Harvard, Johnsburg, McHenry, Spring Grove, Richmond and Woodstock police departments – was activated and responded to reconstruct the crash.

All four directions of Route 12 and Route 173 were shut down into the early morning hours while MCAT worked the scene.

Investigators were seen taking photos, measurements and conducting interviews with bystanders as part of the accident reconstruction.

An employee at the nearby Gigi’s Cafe, named Charles, told Lake and McHenry County Scanner he was inside working when he heard an explosion-like noise.

“I knew it wasn’t fireworks,” he said.

Charles immediately looked outside to see the crash, with flames coming from the engine compartment area of the Toyota.

He quickly grabbed the restaurant’s fire extinguisher and ran outside.

Charles and another man both used their fire extinguishers on the fire.

Numerous other good Samaritans worked together to check and render aid to those involved in the crash.

“He’s breathing, he’s breathing!” Charles heard them saying about the man in the Toyota.

Cetrangolo credited the good Samaritans for their actions.

“The Richmond Police Department wishes to thank the good Samaritans who stopped and assisted at the scene before police and fire personnel arrived,” the police chief said.

Towing crews from Fox Recovery & Towing and Marathon Towing responded to remove the vehicles involved and help clean up the debris.

Specialty towing vehicles, including a lowboy trailer for the camper involved, were brought to the scene.

1-800-BOARDUP also responded and performed damage restoration for Value Discount Flooring.

The Spring Grove Fire Protection District, Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection, Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, McHenry Township Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Spring Grove Police Department assisted during the incident.

The crash remains under investigation by MCAT.

“Additional information will be released upon the conclusion of the MCAT investigation,” Cetrangolo said.

A 43-year-old man is dead and a woman was injured after an SUV turned in front of an oncoming motorcycle, causing a three-vehicle crash in Mettawa Monday evening, the sheriff said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and Libertyville Fire Department responded around 8:50 p.m. Monday to the area of Route 60 and Saint Mary’s Road in Mettawa for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Initial 911 callers reported a motorcycle-involved crash with the victim not conscious and not breathing, according to fire department radio traffic.

Fire crews arrived and reported CPR was in progress on the unresponsive victim.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a three-vehicle crash.

The driver of a 2022 Honda Motorcycle, a 43-year-old Mundelein man, was unconscious and not breathing.

Covelli said lifesaving efforts were attempted at the scene by first responders but the driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation shows the Honda motorcycle was traveling westbound on Route 60.

The Honda proceeded through a green light at the intersection with Saint Mary’s Road.

A 2024 Chevrolet Trax, driven by a 55-year-old Waukegan woman, was traveling eastbound on Route 60 and made a left turn onto northbound Saint Mary’s Road in front of the motorcycle, Covelli said.

The driver of the Honda motorcycle was unable to avoid the collision and struck the passenger side of the Chevrolet.

The collision caused the motorcyclist to be ejected from the motorcycle.

The motorcycle then struck a Hyundai SUV, which was facing southbound on Saint Mary’s Road, Covelli said. None of the three occupants in the Hyundai were injured.

The driver of the Chevrolet suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Lake Forest. She is cooperating with the investigation, Covelli said.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and an autopsy is being scheduled on the driver of the motorcycle. His identity has not been released.

The intersection of Route 60 and Saint Mary’s Road was completely shut down for several hours.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.

A 34-year-old man died after he crashed with an SUV and was ejected from his motorcycle on Route 45 in Mundelein Monday evening, causing a lengthy traffic shutdown.

The Mundelein Police Department and Mundelein Fire Department responded around 5:25 p.m. Monday to Route 45 and Route 83 in Mundelein for reports of a vehicle crash with injuries.

Multiple people called 911 to report the crash and that one person was not breathing, according to fire department radio traffic.

Police officers and firefighter/medics arrived to find a Suzuki motorcycle and a Honda Pilot SUV involved in the crash at the entrance and exit of the BP gas station on Route 45 just north of Route 83.

The Suzuki was driven by a 34-year-old man, who was ejected in the crash, police officials said.

Rescue personnel immediately began lifesaving measures on the man, according to radio traffic, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A tarp was placed over the man’s body, which was lying in the northbound lanes of Route 45.

Due to the severity of the crash, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County was requested to the scene, police officials said.

All lanes of Route 45 between Route 60 and Route 83 were shut down and surrounded by crime scene tape while MCAT investigators worked the scene.

The Honda sustained damage to its front and rear driver’s side doors, while the motorcycle was totaled.

Parts of the motorcycle and the Honda were left scattered on the roadway.

Investigators were seen entering nearby businesses to gather witness accounts, marking the roadway with spray paint, taking measurements and deploying a drone for aerial photos.

Route 45 was reopened at around 8 p.m., over two and a half hours following the collision.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and took possession of the victim for an autopsy.

His identity has not been released yet and the autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by the Mundelein Police Department and MCAT.

Prosecutors say a man, who claimed to police he was selling body oil, fired multiple gunshots in a parking lot behind businesses in Waukegan to act “cool and show off” to his friends.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said a Waukegan police detective was on a night detail on April 17 when he was driving past a strip mall in the 2100 block of North Green Bay Road in Waukegan.

He saw three people in the parking lot in front of The Sip 21, 2120 North Green Bay Road.

The detective noticed that the hatch of a car was open when he initially drove by around 1:15 a.m., McConnell said.

He heard two to three gunshots fired from the rear parking lot of the business and circled back to investigate.

McConnell said the detective saw the same people in the back parking lot but the hatch of the car was closed by a man, later identified as Martin Rodriguez, 28, of Winthrop Harbor.

Officers asked Rodriguez if he had a firearm and he said that he was licensed. He had a Firearm Owner’s Identification card but no concealed carry license.

Rodriguez admitted that his firearm was in the car in a cooler, McConnell said.

Officers asked him if he had fired the gun and he said that he had just heard gunshots while he was selling body oil.

Detectives located a spent shell casing on the ground underneath the vehicle, McConnell said.

The gun in the cooler had a live round in the chamber and the round matched the ammunition that was located on the ground.

Rodriguez was confronted with the evidence and admitted that he was the one who fired the gun, McConnell said.

McConnell said detectives came to the conclusion after interviewing Rodriguez that he was “trying to seem cool” and “show off to his friends.”

Rodriguez was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony.

“This Defendant does not have a CCL, meaning he is not permitted to have his firearm on his person in public, not broken down, unloaded, and in a carrying case. Yet, this Defendant chose to bring his loaded gun out to the parking lot of a bar in the middle of the night and shoot the firearm not once, but multiple times,” McConnell said.

“In the area where this Defendant discharged the firearm there are multiple other businesses including other bars. This Defendant put himself, his friends, and anyone who may have been in the area in the other businesses or homes nearby, in danger,” the prosecutor added.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Rodriguez pending trial and Lake County Judge James Simonian denied the request during a detention hearing.

A public defender for Rodriguez said his client has no criminal history, is a FedEx driver and is the sole financial provider for his children. The attorney also argued that the firing of the gun was “accidental.”

The judge released Rodriguez on pre-trial conditions, which include Level 3 pre-trial services monitoring with no alcohol or drugs. He was also ordered not to possess weapons and turn over his FOID card.

Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in court again on July 15 for a status of preliminary hearing.

Police are working to identify individuals who made a hoax call about explosives at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee that prompted an emergency response Friday afternoon.

The Gurnee Police Department received a report at around 4:30 p.m. Friday of possible explosive devices inside the park.

“Within minutes of the initial call, law enforcement was contacted by a Florida-based Threat Management team advising that the call was believed to be a hoax,” Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.

“The team had information indicating the individuals involved were associated with similar swatting incidents in other jurisdictions,” Gaylor added.

The Gurnee Police Department worked with Great America park security and conducted additional security measures.

The Gurnee Fire Department also responded to the park and was on standby.

The exact security measures were not specified, but Gaylor said they were done “out of an abundance of caution.”

Police did not locate any explosive devices, suspicious items or credible threats.

“At this time, there is no known threat to the public,” Gaylor said.

The Gurnee Police Department is continuing to work with other police agencies to identify the individuals responsible for making the call.

Lake & McHenry County Scanner has reached out to Six Flags officials for comment.