Four arrested in Waukegan shootings

Waukegan police have arrested four people, all teenagers, in connection with a pair of gang-related shootings last month.

Police responded to a drive-by shooting on the 600 block of Lorraine Avenue at 9:55 p.m. Jan. 21 and found a 15-year-old girl with a glancing wound to the top of her head.

On Jan. 23, police were called to the same house where a 19-year-old man had been shot in the back. The shooting took place about 9:50 p.m. police said.

A 20-year-old resident of the house was the target, police said. The suspects told police the shootings were in retaliation after someone had fired shots at them two days earlier.

Police on Thursday identified 16-year-old Victor Ramirez as the shooter in both cases. Ramirez, who was charged as an adult, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member. Ramirez is being held at the Lake County jail on $1 million bail.

The driver in the first shooting was identified by police as Martin Martinez, 17, who was also charged as adult. Martinez was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member. Martinez is currently being held on $500,000 bail at the Lake County jail. Martinez had completed probation in October for a robbery arrest, police said.

The most serious offense carries a prison term of six to 30 years.

A 14-year-old boy was also present at both shootings, police said. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member, two counts of felony mob action and one count of unlawful contact with a street gang member, police said.

The 14-year-old was arrested in August 2011 for a Waukegan burglary, police said.

Another 16-year-old boy was also charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member and one count of felony mob action. Both juveniles are being held at the Hulse Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills.

All four suspects are documented street gang members, police said.