2 suspects in custody after Antioch Township police standoff

Two people who had a violent run-in with Antioch police Wednesday morning, then held officers at bay for several hours are in police custody while awaiting charges, authorities said.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said a male military veteran and a woman were taken into custody after police stormed a residence on the 40500 block of North Route 83 in Antioch Township just after 1 p.m.

No one was injured in the standoff that started after the unidentified man and woman shot at police earlier in the day, police said.

Curran would not provide the suspects' names until after charges are filed. He said the sheriff's office has been in contact with the Lake County state's attorneys office regarding possible charges.

"This ended peacefully and worked according to plan," Curran said. "This is what we are trained to do."

A man who identified himself as the suspect's foster brother said the suspect is a former military member who has "mental issues."

"I'm glad he's safe. I'm glad no one got hurt," said Rob Zajac, adding later, "I hope he gets help. Hopefully, this will get help for him."

The arrests ended several hours of police activity that began just before 6:30 a.m. with a solicitor complaint in an Antioch neighborhood and evolved into the standoff in Antioch Township that shut down Route 83 and forced several area schools to go on soft lockdown.

The confrontation began after Antioch police officers responded to a complaint on the 400 block of Donin Road, where residents reported a man and a woman were knocking on doors and asking for money, authorities said in a news release.

When officers arrived, they found a suspicious man and woman inside a vehicle. Officers activated emergency lights and sirens, but the driver of the vehicle failed to stop and drove off, authorities said.

In trying to escape, the driver struck an Antioch police car, the news release said. Witnesses reported to police they saw a long-barrel weapon pointed out of the passenger window and heard a gunshot, the release said.

No one was injured in the crash or hit by the gunshot, authorities said.

A motorist called police and said they saw a sedan driving erratically south on Route 83, then park at a house, Antioch Police Chief Steve Huffman said.

Police drove to the house and discovered the plates on the car matched the vehicle involved in the earlier confrontation, authorities said.

The building where the standoff took place was a single-family residence that had been divided into multiple small apartments, authorities said.

Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Chris Covelli said police established a perimeter around the house and tried to communicate with the occupants inside.

Curran said officers used a bull horn to call out to the suspects and attempted to throw a two-way phone into the house to speak with people inside. But they refused to answer.

Curran said police made the decision to enter the house due to safety concerns. Police entered through an unlocked door and quickly took the two people into custody without incident.

Several area schools were placed on soft lockdown throughout the day, meaning doors were locked and students and staff members could not go outside. They included Lake Villa District 41, Emmons District 33, Antioch District 34, and Antioch High School District 117, which includes Lakes High School.

The lockdown was lifted shortly after the suspects were taken into custody, Curran said.