Police say suspect sought in retaliatory gang shooting in Round Lake Park

Round Lake Park police are searching for a man suspected in what they believe was a gang-related retaliatory shooting.

Police Chief George Filenko said a 19-year-old man was shot in his left leg while on a deck behind a home in the 400 block of Highmoor Drive. He said the victim was with at least three other individuals when four or five shots were fired at the group about 9:15 p.m. Monday.

Filenko said the victim was reported in stable condition Tuesday at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

It's believed the shooting was in retaliation for the death of a reputed gang member, who was in a sport utility vehicle when he was hit by a landscaping brick hurled at it by a rival in the 400 block of Highmoor on the afternoon of July 17, 2011, Filenko said. He said the two gangs likely were aware of the anniversary date.

“It was a matter of time,” Filenko said of the shooting. “We knew it was coming. We didn't know when.”

Filenko said the victim from Monday evening's shooting and several witnesses told investigators that a red pickup truck drove around the block several times before the gunshots rang out. He said the suspect exited the vehicle before firing the shots toward the deck.

Shortly after the shooting, Filenko said, officers in neighboring Round Lake observed a vehicle matching the description of the pickup truck heading south on Fairfield Road. He said police attempted to stop the truck on Fairfield north of Route 120.

After the Round Lake officers spotted the suspect fleeing on foot east into a field, they received assistance from Round Lake Park and Lake County Sheriff's Office canine units. Filenko said police are pursuing leads and are looking for someone whom he called “a person of interest.”

Last year, Rogelio Lopez, 18, of Round Lake, was killed when the brick crashed through the SUV's windshield while he was in the front passenger-side seat.

Willie Davis Jr., 21, of Round Lake Park, is accused of hurling the brick when he saw a fellow gang member being chased by rivals in the SUV. Davis was charged with first-degree murder.

Carlos Luna Jr., 22, of Round Lake Park, was the SUV's driver, authorities said. He was charged with three counts of reckless homicide, five counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing an accident with death and three counts of DUI causing an accident with bodily harm.

Authorities said the SUV that Luna piloted hopped a boulder after the brick was thrown into it, then went out of control at more than 55 mph and struck a tree.