Man shot in the neck at Winthrop Harbor New Year’s party

A Zion man came to the defense of his girlfriend at a Winthrop Harbor party on New Year’s and shot the 21-year-old old host in the neck, according to police.

Keri L. May, 18, of Zion was at the party on the 1300 block of Lewis Avenue but left to get her boyfriend Jeremaih A. Lee, 20, of Zion, after she got in an argument with another partygoer, said Winthrop Harbor police Sgt. Lenny Carini.

Lee walked into the home about 2:45 a.m. and shot a single bullet through the host’s neck, according to police.

Officers from Zion and the Lake County sheriff’s also responded to the home for the call of shots fired and found the wounded victim, but Lee had fled the scene, according to police.

The victim of the shooting, which was the first crime in Winthrop Harbor of 2012, was taken to Vista East Medical Center but was released later the same day, police said.

“He was talking,” Carini said. “It was a miracle with today’s medical technology. The bullet passed straight through his neck.”

Lee was found shortly after shooting and was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, police said.

May was charged with obstructing justice for lying to authorities during the investigation, police said.