Round Lake Beach teen charged in shooting

Round Lake Park police said they arrested a teenager who is accused of firing eight bullets at a house early Tuesday, possibly in retaliation for a gang shooting in a neighboring village.

Omar Zarate, 18, of the 1500 block of Pleasant Drive in Round Lake Beach, was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon. He’s set for a bond hearing Wednesday in Lake County circuit court.

Police Chief George Filenko credited detectives for quickly assembling leads and physical evidence that led to Zarate’s arrest.

“If you’re going to commit a crime,” Filenko said, “obviously we’re going to go to every length to make sure the person is arrested.”

Filenko said police were summoned at 2:05 a.m. Tuesday after breaking glass awoke the occupants of the house near Washington Street and Kenwood Drive. Inside were a 44-year-old man and two children, ages 6 and 14, who aren’t gang members.

Of the eight bullets fired at the home, three made it inside, Filenko said. Investigators collected shell casings from the area, but a weapon has yet to be recovered, the chief said.

Filenko said Zarate was on foot when he fired at the house, possibly in retaliation for a recent gang shooting in neighboring Round Lake Beach. He said the intended target, a gang member, wasn’t in the home early Tuesday and is believed to have fled the United States.