Elk Grove man faces new charges after postal worker shooting
An Elk Grove Village man has been indicted on new charges of trying to kill a postal worker on New Year's Eve, authorities said Friday.
Cameron Ruebusch, 24, is charged with attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. A federal grand jury returned the indictment Thursday.
Ruebusch initially faced a single charge in January of assaulting a federal employee with a weapon.
Also charged this week was Ronald Beyer Jr., 24, of Mount Prospect, with one count of being an accessory for driving Ruebusch from the scene after the shooting, prosecutors said.
If found guilty, Ruebusch could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the attempted murder and assault charges, and 10 years for each of the firearm counts. Beyer could face up to 10 years for the accessory charge.
According to the criminal complaint filed in January, Ruebusch fired at least three shots that critically injured 36-year-old mail carrier Stephen Casazza Jr. of Arlington Heights around 6 p.m. Dec. 31 on the 200 block of West Brantwood Avenue in Elk Grove Village. Casazza told investigators he parked in front of Ruebusch's house to deliver mail to houses on the block. After returning a short time later, Ruebusch tapped on the front passenger's-side window of the unmarked postal service van as he clutched a handgun, Casazza told authorities.
Ruebusch asked, "What's up, man?" as Casazza put the vehicle in drive and started to drive away, but soon heard a gunshot and realized he had been shot, according to the complaint.
Casazza was shot in the back, chest and forearm, but survived.