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Prosecutor: Addison man shot train engineer with air rifle

An Addison man was jailed Monday on charges he shot a freight train engineer with an air rifle after apparently getting tired of targeting beer cans.

DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail at $45,000 for 18-year-old Carlos Lopez-Almarez, who was charged with aggravated battery.

Authorities said Lopez-Almarez and a 15-year-old boy were shooting at beer cans about 4:15 p.m. Sunday near the 400 block of Gregory Avenue in Glendale Heights when they decided to take aim at a passing Canadian National train.

Assistant State's Attorney Shanti Kulkarni said the train engineer was struck once in the hand, forcing him to stop the train and have the projectile surgically removed.

Officers obtained incriminating statements after they found Lopez-Almarez and the juvenile in the area where the engineer reported being shot, Kulkarni said. He said the two were standing about 50 feet from the railroad tracks.

“The defendant's actions were extremely dangerous,” Kulkarni said. “He was there with a 15-year-old and, as an adult, he had a responsibility to prevent this.”

Lopez-Almarez, of the 600 block of South Iowa Avenue, was being held in the DuPage jail Monday and would have to post $4,500 to be released. The 15-year-old boy was referred to juvenile court, Glendale Heights police Sgt. Doug Flint said.

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