Why a light charge for Elgin shooter?

I was horrified to read in the Daily Herald July 15 that 57-year-old Donald Rattanavong of Arthur Drive in Elgin had, on July 4, shot an Elgin High School student in the head and killed him in the street where the boy was riding his bicycle.

What was also surprising was that Rattanavong had been charged only with involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm.

Thinking that this must be a mistake in reporting, I went to the Elgin Police Department. The receptionist was not especially interested in giving me information. “Why are you asking?” she said. “You’re not involved in the case.”

I say, “With such a light charge, it’s possible that the shooter got out on bail. And if a killer is loose on Arthur Drive, about one mile from where I live, then I certainly am involved.”

As per the Herald, the Pineda family had moved to Elgin to get away from the violence in Chicago.

Inez Tornblom

Elgin