Prosecutor: Man shot worker at Stratford Square Mall after being kicked out of store
Bail was set at $750,000 Wednesday for a Glendale Heights man accused of shooting a Burlington store loss prevention officer during a struggle Tuesday afternoon in Bloomingdale that ended outside.
Keonte Griffin, 23, of the 300 block of Thorncliff Drive, is charged with aggravated battery by discharging a firearm and unlawful use or possession of a firearm by a felon.
Assistant State's Attorney Lynn Cavallo said Griffin was trying on clothes in a changing room when he urinated in a water bottle. While changing, Griffin accidentally kicked over the bottle of urine and spilled its contents, which caught the attention of the loss prevention officer.
The officer told Griffin he was no longer welcome in the store and escorted him out. Cavallo said Griffin was "very angry" about not being allowed to complete his purchase.
As they left the store just before 1:30 p.m., she said, Griffin pulled a loaded gun from his pocket. The Burlington employee saw the gun and lunged at Griffin.
During the struggle, the officer was shot in the shoulder. Griffin was shot in the hand by a bullet that then lodged in his thigh. Both Griffin and the officer were treated at an area hospital.
Griffin was wanted on a warrant for a previous outstanding retail theft charge at the time of the shooting. That warrant was for a 2017 retail theft charge from Plato's Closet, but Griffin never appeared in court on the charges.
"The allegations against Mr. Griffin are extremely serious and will be met with the full force and effect of the law," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "I would like to thank the loss prevention officer for his efforts in disarming and detaining the suspect in this case and note that it is certainly good news that he is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries."
Senior Assistant Public Defender Kristen Nevdal argued for a $20,000 bail and said there are "potential mental health issues" in play.
Griffin is next due in court on June 19, at which point he may also be arraigned.