Gurnee cops investigating sex assaults

Gurnee police are investigating two separate complaints accusing 8-year-old boys of sexually assaulting younger children.

Police say the cases, which are still under investigation, are not related.

In the most recent case reported Tuesday evening, a parent told authorities her 3-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, were assaulted sexually by an 8-year-old boy. The attack allegedly occurred Monday.

The first case was reported last weekend when a 4-year-old boy was molested by an 8-year-old boy, Cmdr. Jay Patrick said. The attack allegedly occurred in the 1000 block of Fuller Road.

Police would not provide further details about the cases, but said the offenders were not related to the victims.

The Department of Children and Family Services has been called in to work with the families, Patrick said.

Police say the attacks are highly unusual for the age of the offenders and victims.

"It's extremely unusual to have two cases like in the same week. We usually don't even see one case a year," Patrick said.