Elgin police charge man in girlfriend shooting

A 57-year-old Elgin man faces several felony charges in connection with a Friday morning incident in which he fired two shots at his longtime girlfriend, hitting her once in the right leg, authorities said Saturday.

Gene Morrison, of the 400 block of Prospect Street, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery.

The Kane County state's attorney's office authorized the charges Friday night, officials said.

Police said the couple of seven years apparently began arguing Friday in the home they share on the city's east side.

At some point during the verbal altercation, Morrison pulled out a handgun, which his 31-year-old girlfriend pushed away. He then fired two shots at her, with one bullet striking her right leg, Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said.

Officers recovered the gun and arrested Morrison at the scene, authorities said. Investigators don't know what triggered the argument.

Elgin firefighters responded at 11:43 a.m. Friday to a report of a shooting and arrived two minutes later to transport the wounded woman to Sherman Hospital.

The woman was still hospitalized Saturday, but authorities said her wound is not life-threatening.

Morrison, meanwhile, was being held at the Kane County Adult Justice Center on $200,000 bond.

He is due in court Oct. 28 at the Kane County Judicial Center.