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Round Lake Park man pleads not guilty in fatal attack

A Round Lake Park man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges stemming from what police say was a clash between rival gangs that left one man dead.

Willie Davis Jr., 20, is charged with armed violence, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery and reckless conduct.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ari Fisz said Davis was outside his residence on the 400 block of Highmoor Drive on July 17 when he saw a fellow gang member being chased by rival gang members in an SUV.

Davis threw a landscaping brick through the window of the SUV, which went out of control at more than 55 mph and struck a tree.

Rogelio Lopez, 18, a front-seat passenger in the SUV, died at the scene of the crash and five other occupants of the vehicle were hospitalized.

Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said Thursday that investigators are waiting for the results of toxicology tests and an accident reconstruction done by the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team before deciding if other charges will be filed.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial of the case for Oct. 31 and ordered Davis, who is held on $1 million bond, to appear in court Sept. 7.

Fisz said Davis faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all the charges against him.

Round Lake Park man charged in crash that killed rival gang member