Pretrial release granted for suspect in Elgin party shooting

A man accused of shooting three people at a family party near Elgin — including his father — has been granted pretrial release.

And he will be living with his parents, according to his attorney.

Jeremy Holt, 26, was put on electronic home monitoring, with permission to go to work, by Kane County Judge David Kliment on July 11. His parents attended his hearing and were willing to speak on his behalf, his attorney said.

Holt is accused of shooting his father, another man and a woman on June 22 outside his father’s house on the 8N500 block of Gingerwood Lane, west of Elgin.

He was charged with one count of attempted murder, four counts of aggravated battery — discharge of a weapon, and single counts of armed violence, aggravated battery — strangulation, mob action and reckless discharge of a firearm.

First-appearance court judge Salvatore LoPiccolo ruled on June 25 that there was no probable cause to charge Holt with attempted murder, armed violence and the aggravated battery gun charges, so pretrial detention was not an option on those charges.

But there was probable cause on the other charges, LoPiccolo ruled.

Holt’s father was shot in his right shoulder; another man was shot twice near his groin and three times in a leg; and a woman was shot in her right ankle, while also sustaining a ricochet wound in her left ankle, prosecutor David Belshan told Kliment.

According to Belshan, the male victim said he received a call from his son saying he was being beaten by Holt and Holt’s brother. The victim went back to the house to confront Holt, tried to punch him, heard a “pop” that he thought was fireworks, tried to punch Holt again, and then felt pain.

Belshan said police were told that Holt had obtained the weapon, a 10 mm handgun, from his car.

Holt’s attorney argued that Holt was acting in self-defense, and described the dispute as an emotional situation, with people drinking alcohol, “that went way wrong.”

Belshan countered, “Having a family skirmish does not mean you get to pull out a gun and shoot people.”

Kliment ruled that the prosecution had not provided evidence as to why they believed Holt was a specific threat to the two other victims, and that there were conditions he could impose to mitigate danger.

Holt is to have no abusive contact with the victims, and has to refrain from drinking alcohol.