Two charged in Elgin gang shooting

Elgin police say they have arrested two Elgin men and charged them with Monday night's gang-related shooting of a 15-year-old in the arm on the city's west side.

Giovanni Sandoval, 18, of the 1100 block of Concord Drive, and Edgar G. Bernal, 19, of the 500 block of Lucille Avenue, were detained Tuesday and charged Thursday, police spokeswoman Sue Olafson said.

The victim was released from the hospital Wednesday.

Sandoval is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a street gang member, aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, Olafson said.

Bernal is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, in this case, Larkin High School, Olafson said.

The most serious charges aggravated discharge of a firearm and shooting near a school carry a six- to 30-year prison term and probation is not an option.

Police said the victim was riding his bike with a friend near Clifton Avenue and Erie Street when a car drove by with several people inside.

The people in the car flashed gang signs. hurled insults and flashed a gun, police said in a news release this afternoon.

According to the release: The people in the car chased after the victim, who was shot in the arm as he hid behind houses in the 200 block of South Clifton Avenue. The department's gang unit later tracked down the car and found Sandoval and Bernal.

A friend drove the victim to Provena St. Joseph Hospital that night, and he was released on Wednesday, Olafson said.

According to Kane County Court records, Bernal does not have a criminal history in Kane County, but Sandoval was arrested on April 17 by Elgin police and charged with possession of between 10 to 30 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, no car insurance and no registration light.

Records show that Sandoval on July 14 entered into a pretrial diversion program called the Second Chance Drug and Alcohol Education Program. Sandoval is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 11, 2011, for that case.

But before that, he and Bernal will be in bond court Friday morning.